S 0502-Y vs Fresh Zest
Where S 0502-Y belongs to NCS's range, Fresh Zest 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 Fresh Zest (LRV 82), 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. The ΔE 8.2 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 0502-Y vs Fresh Zest in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. S 0502-Y and Fresh Zest 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.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. S 0502-Y reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Mudroom
Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. S 0502-Y has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. S 0502-Y reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
S 0502-Y vs Fresh Zest Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 0502-Y on one side and Fresh Zest 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 8), opening up a space where Duck 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.