Denim vs Paper
Where Denim belongs to Sherwin-Williams's range, Paper is a Tikkurila color. Hue-wise, Denim belongs to the blue family and Paper to the beige-greige family. Paper (LRV 88) reflects noticeably more light than Denim (LRV 14), a difference of 75 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 54.9, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Denim vs Paper in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Denim and Paper in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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 LRV gap is large enough that Paper will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim would.
Color Details
Denim vs Paper Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Denim on one side and Paper 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 Denim comparisons
See how Denim stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
