James White vs Stiffkey Blue paint color comparison

James White vs Stiffkey Blue

James WhiteFarrow & BallvsStiffkey BlueFarrow & BallΔE 57.5 — Very different colors

Both from Farrow & Ball's palette. Hue-wise, James White belongs to the beige-white family and Stiffkey Blue to the blue family. James White (LRV 81) reflects noticeably more light than Stiffkey Blue (LRV 10), a difference of 71 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. James White runs warm while Stiffkey Blue is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 57.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

James White vs Stiffkey Blue in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing James White and Stiffkey Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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 James White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Stiffkey Blue would.

James WhiteFarrow and Ball James White 2010 living room for kidsroom

@hemptonhouse

Stiffkey BlueFarrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue 281 living room fireplace

@barnesandmoss

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. James White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Stiffkey Blue.

James WhiteStylish bedroom paint color James White Farrow and Ball

@the_flint_house

Stiffkey BlueFarrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue 281 bedroom

@riverapartment

Kitchen

In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. James White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Stiffkey Blue.

James WhiteLarge kitchen with James White Farrow and Ball colour

@goodchild_decorating

Stiffkey BlueFarrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue 281 kitchen

@jonospink

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. James White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Stiffkey Blue.

James WhiteSage kitchen cabinets with James White color by Farrow and Ball

@no.6.vc

Stiffkey BlueFarrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue 281 kitchen cabinets

@themiddleterrace

Color Details

James White
Farrow & Ball · 2010
LRV80.8
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number2010
Undertone—
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
Stiffkey Blue
Farrow & Ball · 281
LRV10.0
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number281
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

James White vs Stiffkey Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see James White on one side and Stiffkey Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.