Believable Buff vs Empire Gold
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the beige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Believable Buff (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Empire Gold (LRV 37), a difference of 21 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. With a ΔE of 18.7, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Believable Buff vs Empire Gold in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Believable Buff and Empire Gold 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 Believable Buff will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Empire Gold would.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Believable Buff reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Empire Gold.
Color Details
Believable Buff vs Empire Gold Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Believable Buff on one side and Empire Gold 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.