Magnolia vs Calamine
Where Magnolia belongs to Dulux's range, Calamine is a Farrow & Ball color. Magnolia reads as beige, while Calamine reads as pink-red — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Magnolia (LRV 83) reflects noticeably more light than Calamine (LRV 68), a difference of 15 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 9.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Magnolia vs Calamine in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Magnolia and Calamine 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 Magnolia will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Calamine 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. Magnolia reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Calamine.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Magnolia reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Calamine.
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. Magnolia reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Calamine.
Color Details
Magnolia vs Calamine Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Magnolia on one side and Calamine 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 Magnolia comparisons
See how Magnolia stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
