Downing Straw vs Empire Gold
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. Downing Straw (LRV 43) reflects noticeably more light than Empire Gold (LRV 37), 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. 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Downing Straw vs Empire Gold in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Downing Straw and Empire Gold 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.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Downing Straw reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Downing Straw vs Empire Gold Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Straw on one side and Empire Gold 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.