Lamp Black vs Vesper Violet
Where Lamp Black belongs to Little Greene's range, Vesper Violet is a Sherwin-Williams color. Lamp Black reads as grey, while Vesper Violet reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Vesper Violet (LRV 35) reflects noticeably more light than Lamp Black (LRV 3), a difference of 33 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Lamp Black runs purple while Vesper Violet is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 48.2, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Lamp Black vs Vesper Violet in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Lamp Black and Vesper Violet 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. Vesper Violet reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lamp Black.
Color Details
Lamp Black vs Vesper Violet Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lamp Black on one side and Vesper Violet 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 Lamp Black comparisons
See how Lamp Black stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
