James White vs Soul
James White (Farrow & Ball) and Soul (Jotun) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, James White belongs to the beige-white family and Soul to the beige-yellow family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 81 vs 80 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Both share a warm character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 0.4 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
James White vs Soul in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. James White and Soul 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
James White vs Soul Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see James White on one side and Soul 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 James White comparisons
See how James White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
James White reads slightly lighter (LRV 81 vs 69), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 81), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 81 vs 6, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 52, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 58, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 27, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 55, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 13, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 44, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reads slightly lighter (LRV 84 vs 81), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 66, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (81 vs 74) makes James White the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 81), so neither reads brighter in a room.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 51), opening up a space where Pigeon encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 12, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 8, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 68, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 12, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 45, James White is decisively the brighter choice.
James White reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.