Cadet vs Emerging Taupe
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Cadet reads as blue-grey, while Emerging Taupe reads as beige-pink — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Emerging Taupe (LRV 38) reflects noticeably more light than Cadet (LRV 31), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Cadet runs neutral while Emerging Taupe is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 15.4, 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.
Cadet vs Emerging Taupe in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cadet and Emerging Taupe 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 brightness difference is modest but present — Emerging Taupe gives the walls a little more lift.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Emerging Taupe reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Cadet vs Emerging Taupe Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cadet on one side and Emerging Taupe 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 Cadet comparisons
See how Cadet stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 31, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 60 vs 31, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Cadet reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 31, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 31, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Cadet reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Cadet reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 31), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 7-point LRV gap (31 vs 24) makes Cadet the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 31, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.