Smoky vs Washed Linen
Where Smoky belongs to Cloverdale Paint's range, Washed Linen is a Jotun color. Both sit in the beige-greige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Smoky (LRV 63) reflects noticeably more light than Washed Linen (LRV 55), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 4.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smoky vs Washed Linen in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Smoky and Washed Linen are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Smoky will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Washed Linen would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Smoky reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Washed Linen.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Smoky reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Washed Linen.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Smoky returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Smoky reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Washed Linen.
Color Details
Smoky vs Washed Linen Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smoky on one side and Washed Linen on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Smoky comparisons
See how Smoky stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
