S 0502-Y vs Classic Light Buff
Where S 0502-Y belongs to NCS's range, Classic Light Buff is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. S 0502-Y (LRV 87) reflects noticeably more light than Classic Light Buff (LRV 83), a difference of 5 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. At ΔE 2.6, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 0502-Y vs Classic Light Buff in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. S 0502-Y and Classic Light Buff are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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 brightness difference is modest but present — S 0502-Y gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
S 0502-Y vs Classic Light Buff Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 0502-Y on one side and Classic Light Buff 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 S 0502-Y comparisons
See how S 0502-Y stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
S 0502-Y reads slightly lighter (LRV 87 vs 83), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 87 vs 52, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 87 vs 30, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 87 vs 60, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 87 vs 43, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (87 vs 84) makes S 0502-Y the marginally brighter of the two.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 74), opening up a space where Shoji White encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 68), opening up a space where Skimming Stone encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
S 0502-Y reflects far more light (LRV 87 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 87 vs 31, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 87 vs 7, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 87 vs 24, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 87 vs 57, S 0502-Y is decisively the brighter choice.