Impression vs Softer Tan
Where Impression belongs to Jotun's range, Softer Tan is a Sherwin-Williams color. Impression reads as beige-greige, while Softer Tan reads as beige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Softer Tan (LRV 60) reflects noticeably more light than Impression (LRV 40), a difference of 20 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 12.6, 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.
Impression vs Softer Tan in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Impression and Softer Tan 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 Softer Tan will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Impression would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Softer Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Impression.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Softer Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Impression.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Softer Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Impression.
Color Details
Impression vs Softer Tan Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Impression on one side and Softer Tan 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 Impression comparisons
See how Impression stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
