Alloy vs Shoji White

AlloySherwin-WilliamsvsShoji WhiteSherwin-WilliamsΔE 31.5Very different colors

Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Alloy reads as grey, while Shoji White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Shoji White (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Alloy (LRV 25), a difference of 49 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Alloy runs neutral while Shoji White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 31.5, 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 10 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Alloy vs Shoji White in Real Spaces

10 real rooms side by side. Seeing Alloy and Shoji White in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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 LRV gap is large enough that Shoji White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Alloy would.

AlloyA mid century living room painted in Alloy

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Shoji WhiteShoji White SW 7042 living room

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Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Alloy.

AlloyA art deco bedroom painted in Alloy

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Shoji WhiteBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Shoji White

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Kitchen

In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Alloy.

AlloyAlloy — earthy kitchen

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Shoji WhiteSherwin Williams Shoji White kitchen cabinets

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Dining Room

A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

AlloyAlloy paint in a elegant dining room

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Shoji WhiteSW Shoji White modern dining room

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Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Alloy.

AlloyAlloy — wabi-sabi bathroom

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Shoji WhiteWhite bathroom in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams

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Home Office

The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Alloy.

AlloySherwin-Williams Alloy in a minimalist home office

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Shoji WhiteSW 7042 home office inspiration

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Mudroom

Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

AlloyAlloy paint in a classy mudroom

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Shoji WhiteShoji White Mudroom - Coastal Shiplap Drop Zone

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Patio

Outside, paint color competes with sky, landscaping, and direct sun — all of which shift how both of these read compared to an indoor chip. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Alloyindustrial patio featuring Alloy by Sherwin-Williams

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Shoji WhiteShoji White Patio - Modern Minimalist Escape

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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. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Alloy.

AlloyAlloy color — maximalist house inspiration

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Shoji WhiteShoji White house color review

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Front Door

A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Shoji White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Alloy would.

Alloystylish front door featuring Alloy by Sherwin-Williams

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Shoji WhiteWhite front door with Shoji White SW 7042

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Color Details

Alloy
Sherwin-Williams · 9569
Hex#8E8A81
LRV25.5
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9569
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams · 7042
Hex#E6DFD3
LRV74.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7042
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight

Alloy vs Shoji White Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alloy on one side and Shoji White on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Alloy comparisons

See how Alloy stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Alloy
White Dove
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Ammonite
Alloy
Ammonite
Alloy
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 69 vs 25, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

Alloy
Iron Ore
Alloy
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Purbeck Stone
Alloy
Purbeck Stone
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 52 vs 25, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Alloy
Evergreen Fog
Alloy
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

A 5-point LRV gap (30 vs 25) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.

Mizzle
Alloy
Mizzle
Alloy
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Agreeable Gray
Alloy
Agreeable Gray
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 60 vs 25, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Accessible Beige
Alloy
Accessible Beige
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Denim Drift
Alloy
Denim Drift
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

With LRVs of 27 and 25, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

French Gray
Alloy
French Gray
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 43 vs 25, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Alloy
Naval
Alloy
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 25 vs 4, Alloy is decisively the brighter choice.

Tranquil Dawn
Alloy
Tranquil Dawn
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Bancha
Alloy
Bancha
Alloy
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Hardwick White
Alloy
Hardwick White
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Alloy
Pure White
Alloy
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 84 vs 25, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Alloy
Artichoke
Alloy
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

A 4-point LRV gap (25 vs 21) makes Alloy the marginally brighter of the two.

Balboa Mist
Alloy
Balboa Mist
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Alloy
Snowbound
Alloy
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Alloy
Pewter Green
Alloy
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Skimming Stone
Alloy
Skimming Stone
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Dix Blue
Alloy
Dix Blue
Alloy
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 41 vs 25, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Calamine
Alloy
Calamine
Alloy
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 68 vs 25, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.

Treron
Alloy
Treron
Alloy
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 25), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Vintage Vogue
Alloy
Vintage Vogue
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Saybrook Sage
Alloy
Saybrook Sage
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.

Pale Green
Alloy
Pale Green
Alloy
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

A 6-point LRV gap (31 vs 25) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.

Pine Needle
Alloy
Pine Needle
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 25 vs 7, Alloy is decisively the brighter choice.

Cement grey
Alloy
Cement grey
Alloy
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 24), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Guilford Green
Alloy
Guilford Green
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 57 vs 25, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.

Just Walnut
Alloy
Just Walnut
Alloy
Sherwin-Williams
Alloy
9569 · LRV 25

At LRV 72 vs 25, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.