Butternut vs Perle Noir
Butternut and Perle Noir come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Butternut belongs to the beige family and Perle Noir to the grey family. The 30-point LRV gap — 37 for Butternut vs 8 for Perle Noir — means Butternut will open up a space more effectively. Where Butternut leans warm, Perle Noir reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 54.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Butternut vs Perle Noir in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Butternut and Perle Noir in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Butternut returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Butternut returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Butternut reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Perle Noir.
Color Details
Butternut vs Perle Noir Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Butternut on one side and Perle Noir 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 Butternut comparisons
See how Butternut stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 37), opening up a space where Butternut encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 37, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (37 vs 30) makes Butternut the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 37, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 37), opening up a space where Butternut encloses it.
Butternut reads slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (43 vs 37) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 37), opening up a space where Butternut encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 37), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 37, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 37), opening up a space where Butternut encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 37), opening up a space where Butternut encloses it.
Butternut reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 37), opening up a space where Butternut encloses it.
Butternut reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 37), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (37 vs 31) makes Butternut the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 37 vs 7, Butternut is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 37 vs 24, Butternut is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 37, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.