Calico vs Expressive Plum
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Calico reads as blue-green, while Expressive Plum reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Calico (LRV 35) reflects noticeably more light than Expressive Plum (LRV 12), a difference of 23 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Calico runs cool while Expressive Plum is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 30.0, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Calico vs Expressive Plum in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Calico and Expressive Plum 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 Calico will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Expressive Plum would.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Calico reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Expressive Plum.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Calico reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Expressive Plum.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Calico will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Expressive Plum would.
Color Details
Calico vs Expressive Plum Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Calico on one side and Expressive Plum 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.