Free Spirit vs Novel Lilac
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Free Spirit belongs to the purple family and Novel Lilac to the pink-purple family. Free Spirit (LRV 49) reflects noticeably more light than Novel Lilac (LRV 42), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 5.3 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.
Free Spirit vs Novel Lilac in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Free Spirit and Novel Lilac 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.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Free Spirit reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The brightness difference is modest but present — Free Spirit gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Free Spirit vs Novel Lilac Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Free Spirit on one side and Novel Lilac 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 Free Spirit comparisons
See how Free Spirit stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 49), opening up a space where Free Spirit encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 49, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 6, Free Spirit is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 49), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Free Spirit reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 52 vs 49), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 49), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 9-point LRV gap (58 vs 49) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 49 vs 27, Free Spirit is decisively the brighter choice.
Free Spirit reads slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Free Spirit reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (55 vs 49) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 49 vs 13, Free Spirit is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (49 vs 44) makes Free Spirit the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 49), opening up a space where Free Spirit encloses it.
Free Spirit reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 49, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 49, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 49, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 51 and 49, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 49 vs 12, Free Spirit is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 8, Free Spirit is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 49, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Free Spirit reads slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 41), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 49 vs 12, Free Spirit is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (49 vs 45) makes Free Spirit the marginally brighter of the two.
Free Spirit reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.