Smooth White vs Pure White
Smooth White is a Jotun color while Pure White comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Smooth White belongs to the greige-grey family and Pure White to the beige-greige family. At LRV 84 vs 59, Pure White will read as the brighter of the two — a 25-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 12.0, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smooth White vs Pure White in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Smooth White and Pure White 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. Pure White 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 Pure White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smooth White would.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Pure White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smooth White 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 Pure White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smooth White would.
Color Details
Smooth White vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smooth White on one side and Pure White 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 Smooth White comparisons
See how Smooth White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
