Clary Sage vs Frosted Fern

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Both sit in the greige-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. At LRV 41 vs 38, Clary Sage will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a neutral quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 3.4, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Clary Sage vs Frosted Fern in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Clary Sage and Frosted Fern are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

Living Room

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

Clary SageClary Sage SW 6178 living room

@mybudgetrecipes

Frosted FernSherwin Williams Frosted Fern wall panelling color

@being.libby

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Clary SageBedroom walls painted in Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage

@mybudgetrecipes

Frosted FernSherwin Williams Frosted Fern bedroom accent wall

@laddercopainting

Color Details

Clary Sage
Sherwin-Williams · 6178
Hex#ACAD97
LRV40.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6178
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Frosted Fern
Sherwin-Williams · 9648
Hex#A7A796
LRV38.0
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9648
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Clary Sage vs Frosted Fern Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Clary Sage on one side and Frosted Fern on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.

White Dove
Clary Sage
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Clary Sage
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Clary Sage
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Clary Sage is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Clary Sage
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Clary Sage
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Clary Sage reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Clary Sage
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Clary Sage
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Clary Sage
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Clary Sage reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Clary Sage
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Clary Sage
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Clary Sage
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Clary Sage is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Clary Sage
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Clary Sage reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Clary Sage
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Clary Sage is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Clary Sage
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Clary Sage reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Clary Sage
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Clary Sage is the lighter choice

Piazza
Clary Sage
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Clary Sage
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Clary Sage
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Clary Sage reads slightly lighter

Senses
Clary Sage
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Clary Sage
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Clary Sage is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Clary Sage
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Clary Sage
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Clary Sage reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Clary Sage
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Clary Sage reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Clary Sage
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Clary Sage is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Clary Sage
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Clary Sage
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Clary Sage reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Clary Sage
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Clary Sage
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Clary Sage
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Clary Sage
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Clary Sage is the lighter choice