Clary Sage vs Create
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Clary Sage reads as greige-grey, while Create reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Create (LRV 58) reflects noticeably more light than Clary Sage (LRV 41), a difference of 18 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 12.5, 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 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Clary Sage vs Create in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Clary Sage and Create 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 Create will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Clary Sage would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Create reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Create reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
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. Create reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Create reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Create reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Clary Sage.
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 Create will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Clary Sage would.
Color Details
Clary Sage vs Create Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Clary Sage on one side and Create 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 Clary Sage comparisons
See how Clary Sage stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 41, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 41), opening up a space where Clary Sage encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 6, Clary Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 41), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Clary Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 11-point LRV gap (52 vs 41) makes Mizzle the marginally brighter of the two.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 41), opening up a space where Clary Sage encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 41, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 41 vs 27, Clary Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 43 and 41, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Clary Sage reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 41, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 41 vs 13, Clary Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 44 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 41), opening up a space where Clary Sage encloses it.
Clary Sage reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 41, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 41, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 41, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 41 vs 12, Clary Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 41, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 41 and 41, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 41), opening up a space where Clary Sage encloses it.
Clary Sage reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 12, Clary Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (45 vs 41) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Clary Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Clary Sage reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Clary Sage reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 41), opening up a space where Clary Sage encloses it.