Clary Sage vs Sage
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Clary Sage belongs to the greige-grey family and Sage to the beige-greige family. With LRVs of 41 and 42, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Clary Sage's neutral character against Sage's warm — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 3.0, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Clary Sage vs Sage in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Clary Sage and Sage 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. Clary Sage reads more restrained here, while Sage adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The temperature contrast between Sage and Clary Sage is what sets these apart most in this context.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The temperature contrast between Sage and Clary Sage is what sets these apart most in this context.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The temperature contrast between Sage and Clary Sage is what sets these apart most in this context.
Color Details
Clary Sage vs Sage Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Clary Sage on one side and Sage 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.