Bohemian Black vs Plum Brown
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. With LRVs of 4 and 6, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Bohemian Black's neutral character against Plum Brown's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 6.7, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Bohemian Black vs Plum Brown in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Bohemian Black and Plum Brown 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.
Living Room
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Bohemian Black reads more restrained here, while Plum Brown adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Bohemian Black reads more restrained here, while Plum Brown adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Bohemian Black vs Plum Brown Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Bohemian Black on one side and Plum Brown 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 Bohemian Black comparisons
See how Bohemian Black stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 4, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 6 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 4, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 4, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 4, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 4, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 4 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 4, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 4, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 4, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 4, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 4, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 4), opening up a space where Bohemian Black encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 4, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 24 vs 4, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 4, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.