Washed Linen vs Rare Gray
Where Washed Linen belongs to Jotun's range, Rare Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color. Washed Linen reads as beige-greige, while Rare Gray reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Washed Linen (LRV 55) reflects noticeably more light than Rare Gray (LRV 38), a difference of 17 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Washed Linen runs warm while Rare Gray is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 11.4, 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 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Washed Linen vs Rare Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Washed Linen and Rare Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Washed Linen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare Gray.
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. Washed Linen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare Gray.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Washed Linen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare Gray.
Color Details
Washed Linen vs Rare Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Washed Linen on one side and Rare Gray 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 Washed Linen comparisons
See how Washed Linen stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
