Pale Nutmeg vs Smooth White
Where Pale Nutmeg belongs to Dulux's range, Smooth White is a Jotun color. Pale Nutmeg reads as beige-greige, while Smooth White reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Pale Nutmeg (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Smooth White (LRV 59), 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 6.8 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.
Pale Nutmeg vs Smooth White in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Pale Nutmeg and Smooth White 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 Pale Nutmeg will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smooth White 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. Pale Nutmeg reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smooth White.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Pale Nutmeg reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smooth White.
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. Pale Nutmeg 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. Pale Nutmeg reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smooth White.
Color Details
Pale Nutmeg vs Smooth White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pale Nutmeg on one side and Smooth White 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 Pale Nutmeg comparisons
See how Pale Nutmeg stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
