Pale Nutmeg vs Alabaster
Where Pale Nutmeg belongs to Dulux's range, Alabaster is a Sherwin-Williams color. Both sit in the beige-greige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Alabaster (LRV 82) reflects noticeably more light than Pale Nutmeg (LRV 74), a difference of 8 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 4.9 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.
Pale Nutmeg vs Alabaster in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Pale Nutmeg and Alabaster 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 Alabaster will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pale Nutmeg 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. Alabaster reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Pale Nutmeg.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Alabaster reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Pale Nutmeg.
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. Alabaster reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Pale Nutmeg.
Color Details
Pale Nutmeg vs Alabaster Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pale Nutmeg on one side and Alabaster 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.
