Earthy Ochre vs Steamed Chai
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. Steamed Chai (LRV 67) reflects noticeably more light than Earthy Ochre (LRV 43), a difference of 23 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. With a ΔE of 16.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Earthy Ochre vs Steamed Chai Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Earthy Ochre on one side and Steamed Chai 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 Earthy Ochre comparisons
See how Earthy Ochre stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 43, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where Earthy Ochre encloses it.
Earthy Ochre reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 30, Earthy Ochre is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where Earthy Ochre encloses it.
Earthy Ochre reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 43), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 43 vs 4, Earthy Ochre is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Earthy Ochre reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 43, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 21, Earthy Ochre is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where Earthy Ochre encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 43), opening up a space where Earthy Ochre encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where Earthy Ochre encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (51 vs 43) makes Pigeon the marginally brighter of the two.
Earthy Ochre reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Earthy Ochre reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 43), opening up a space where Earthy Ochre encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Earthy Ochre reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 12-point LRV gap (43 vs 31) makes Earthy Ochre the marginally brighter of the two.