Basil vs Radiant Lilac
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Basil reads as green-grey, while Radiant Lilac reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Radiant Lilac (LRV 28) reflects noticeably more light than Basil (LRV 15), a difference of 14 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Basil runs neutral while Radiant Lilac is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 30.3, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Basil vs Radiant Lilac in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Basil and Radiant Lilac 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 Radiant Lilac will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Basil would.
Color Details
Basil vs Radiant Lilac Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Basil on one side and Radiant Lilac 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 Basil comparisons
See how Basil stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 15, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 15, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 15, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 15, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 15, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
With LRVs of 15 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Basil reads slightly lighter (LRV 15 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
With LRVs of 15 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 15), opening up a space where Basil encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 15, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.