Lichen vs Pigeon
Both are Farrow & Ball colors. Lichen reads as greige-grey, while Pigeon reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 51 vs 34, Pigeon will read as the brighter of the two — a 16-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Lichen's warm character against Pigeon's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 6.1, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Lichen vs Pigeon in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Lichen and Pigeon 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Pigeon returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Pigeon will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Pigeon will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Pigeon will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Pigeon returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Lichen vs Pigeon Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lichen on one side and Pigeon 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 Lichen comparisons
See how Lichen stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 34), opening up a space where Lichen encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 34, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (34 vs 30) makes Lichen the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 34, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 34), opening up a space where Lichen encloses it.
Lichen reads slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 9-point LRV gap (43 vs 34) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 34), opening up a space where Lichen encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 34, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 34), opening up a space where Lichen encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 34), opening up a space where Lichen encloses it.
Lichen reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Lichen reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 34), opening up a space where Lichen encloses it.
Lichen reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 3-point LRV gap (34 vs 31) makes Lichen the marginally brighter of the two.
