Acanthus vs Mesmerize
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Acanthus belongs to the beige-greige family and Mesmerize to the blue-grey family. Acanthus (LRV 60) reflects noticeably more light than Mesmerize (LRV 13), a difference of 47 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Acanthus runs neutral while Mesmerize is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 47.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Acanthus vs Mesmerize Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Acanthus on one side and Mesmerize 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 Acanthus comparisons
See how Acanthus stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Acanthus encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Acanthus the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 30, Acanthus is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Acanthus reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Acanthus is decisively the brighter choice.
Acanthus reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Acanthus reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 60, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 60), opening up a space where Acanthus encloses it.
Acanthus reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Acanthus reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Acanthus reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 31, Acanthus is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 7, Acanthus is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 24, Acanthus is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 57), so neither reads brighter in a room.