Lichen vs Green Onyx
Lichen (Farrow & Ball) and Green Onyx (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Lichen reads as greige-grey, while Green Onyx reads as green-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 3-point LRV gap — 34 for Lichen vs 31 for Green Onyx — means Lichen will open up a space more effectively. Where Lichen leans warm, Green Onyx reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.9 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Lichen vs Green Onyx in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Lichen and Green Onyx 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. Lichen reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Lichen has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Lichen has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Lichen vs Green Onyx Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lichen on one side and Green Onyx 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.
