Celtic Forest 3 vs Clary Sage
Where Celtic Forest 3 belongs to Dulux's range, Clary Sage is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, Celtic Forest 3 belongs to the beige-greige family and Clary Sage to the greige-grey family. Celtic Forest 3 (LRV 52) reflects noticeably more light than Clary Sage (LRV 41), a difference of 11 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Celtic Forest 3 runs warm while Clary Sage is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 7.3 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.
Celtic Forest 3 vs Clary Sage in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Celtic Forest 3 and Clary Sage 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 Celtic Forest 3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Clary Sage 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. Celtic Forest 3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Celtic Forest 3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
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. Celtic Forest 3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Celtic Forest 3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Clary Sage would.
Color Details
Celtic Forest 3 vs Clary Sage Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Celtic Forest 3 on one side and Clary Sage 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 Celtic Forest 3 comparisons
See how Celtic Forest 3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
