Cotton White vs Downy
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Cotton White reads as beige-white, while Downy reads as beige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Cotton White (LRV 87) reflects noticeably more light than Downy (LRV 81), a difference of 6 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. At ΔE 2.6, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cotton White vs Downy in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Cotton White and Downy 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.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Cotton White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Cotton White vs Downy Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cotton White on one side and Downy 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.