Calico vs Thistle
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Calico reads as blue-green, while Thistle reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Calico (LRV 35) reflects noticeably more light than Thistle (LRV 30), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 23.1, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Calico vs Thistle in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Calico and Thistle in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Color Details
Calico vs Thistle Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Calico on one side and Thistle 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 Calico comparisons
See how Calico stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 35), opening up a space where Calico encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 35, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (35 vs 30) makes Calico the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 35, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 35), opening up a space where Calico encloses it.
Calico reads slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 9-point LRV gap (43 vs 35) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 35), opening up a space where Calico encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 35), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 35, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 35), opening up a space where Calico encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 35), opening up a space where Calico encloses it.
Calico reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 35), opening up a space where Calico encloses it.
Calico reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 35), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 3-point LRV gap (35 vs 31) makes Calico the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 35 vs 7, Calico is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (35 vs 24) makes Calico the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 35, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.