Colony Buff vs Dirty Martini
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the beige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Dirty Martini (LRV 64) reflects noticeably more light than Colony Buff (LRV 59), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 4.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Colony Buff vs Dirty Martini in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Colony Buff and Dirty Martini 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
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 brightness difference is modest but present — Dirty Martini gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Dirty Martini reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Colony Buff vs Dirty Martini Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colony Buff on one side and Dirty Martini 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.