Lichen vs Washed Linen

LichenFarrow & BallvsWashed LinenJotunΔE 14.9Distinct difference

Lichen is a Farrow & Ball color while Washed Linen comes from Jotun. Hue-wise, Lichen belongs to the greige-grey family and Washed Linen to the beige-greige family. At LRV 55 vs 34, Washed Linen will read as the brighter of the two — a 20-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a warm quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 14.9, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Lichen vs Washed Linen in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Lichen and Washed Linen 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

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. Washed Linen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

LichenFarrow and Ball Lichen 19 living room interior

@janeshomejournal

Washed LinenJotun Washed Linen scandinavian living room decor

@victoriaborthen

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 Washed Linen will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.

LichenFarrow and Ball Lichen 19 bedroom

@ourheadley.home

Washed LinenJotun Washed Linen cozy bedroom interior

@villabrattbacken

Dining Room

Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Washed Linen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lichen.

LichenFarrow and Ball Lichen 19 dining room

@lock.downhouse

Washed LinenJotun Washed Linen cozy dining room interior

@odegarden_1917

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 Washed Linen will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.

LichenFarrow and Ball Lichen 19 bathroom

@studiojoyinteriors

Washed LinenJotun Washed Linen scandinavian bathroom makeover

@villastenlunda

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 Washed Linen will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.

LichenFarrow and Ball Lichen 19 exterior

@ourhomeinthevalley

Washed LinenWashed Linen scandinavian house hallway

@ladhusmedutsikt

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Washed Linen will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.

LichenFarrow and Ball Lichen 19 kitchen cabinets

@yorkshire_smallholding

Washed LinenJotun Washed Linen cozy kitchen cabinets paint review

@krakegatan1836

Color Details

Lichen
Farrow & Ball · 19
Hex#a1a189
LRV34.5
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number19
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Washed Linen
Jotun · 10679
Hex#c9c3b6
LRV54.7
BrandJotun
Number10679
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Lichen vs Washed Linen Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lichen on one side and Washed Linen 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.

More Lichen comparisons

See how Lichen stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Lichen
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Lichen
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Lichen
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Lichen is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Lichen
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Lichen
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Lichen reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Lichen
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Lichen
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Lichen
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Lichen reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Lichen
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Lichen
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Lichen
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Lichen reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
Lichen
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Lichen reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Lichen
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Lichen is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Lichen
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Lichen reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Lichen
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Lichen is the lighter choice

Piazza
Lichen
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Lichen
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Lichen
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Lichen reads slightly lighter

Senses
Lichen
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
Lichen
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Lichen is the lighter choice

Antique White
Lichen
Antique White
Jotun
Antique White
LRV 56

Antique White reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Lichen
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Lichen reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Lichen
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Lichen reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Lichen
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Lichen is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Lichen
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Lichen
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Lichen reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Lichen
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Lichen
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Lichen
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Lichen
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Lichen reads noticeably lighter