Clary Sage vs Soulful Blue
Clary Sage and Soulful Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Clary Sage belongs to the greige-grey family and Soulful Blue to the blue-grey family. The 21-point LRV gap — 41 for Clary Sage vs 20 for Soulful Blue — means Clary Sage will open up a space more effectively. Where Clary Sage leans neutral, Soulful Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 30.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Clary Sage vs Soulful Blue in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Clary Sage and Soulful Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Clary Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Clary Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Clary Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Clary Sage vs Soulful Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Clary Sage on one side and Soulful Blue 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.