Vandyke Brown vs Clary Sage
Where Vandyke Brown belongs to Jotun's range, Clary Sage is a Sherwin-Williams color. Vandyke Brown reads as grey, while Clary Sage reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Clary Sage (LRV 41) reflects noticeably more light than Vandyke Brown (LRV 18), a difference of 23 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 23.1, 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.
Vandyke Brown vs Clary Sage in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Vandyke Brown and Clary Sage 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 Clary Sage will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Vandyke Brown 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. Clary Sage reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Vandyke Brown.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Clary Sage reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Vandyke Brown.
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. Clary Sage reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Vandyke Brown.
Color Details
Vandyke Brown vs Clary Sage Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Vandyke Brown on one side and Clary Sage 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 Vandyke Brown comparisons
See how Vandyke Brown stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
