Papyrus white vs Mercurial
Papyrus white (RAL Classic) and Mercurial (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Papyrus white belongs to the green-grey family and Mercurial to the greige-grey family. The 3-point LRV gap — 61 for Mercurial vs 59 for Papyrus white — means Mercurial will open up a space more effectively. ΔE 3.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Papyrus white vs Mercurial in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Papyrus white and Mercurial 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.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
Papyrus white vs Mercurial Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Papyrus white on one side and Mercurial 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 Papyrus white comparisons
See how Papyrus white stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 10-point LRV gap (69 vs 59) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 59), opening up a space where Papyrus white encloses it.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (59 vs 52) makes Papyrus white the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 59 vs 30, Papyrus white is decisively the brighter choice.
Papyrus white reads slightly lighter (LRV 59 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 59), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 59 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 59 vs 43, Papyrus white is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 4, Papyrus white is decisively the brighter choice.
Papyrus white reads slightly lighter (LRV 59 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 59, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 21, Papyrus white is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 59), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 59), opening up a space where Papyrus white encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 59), opening up a space where Papyrus white encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (59 vs 51) makes Papyrus white the marginally brighter of the two.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 59), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 59 vs 41, Papyrus white is decisively the brighter choice.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Papyrus white reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 59 vs 31, Papyrus white is decisively the brighter choice.