Gardenia vs Summer White
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Gardenia reads as beige, while Summer White reads as beige-white — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Summer White (LRV 83) reflects noticeably more light than Gardenia (LRV 78), a difference of 5 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 4.5 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.
Gardenia vs Summer White in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Gardenia and Summer White 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.
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 brightness difference is modest but present — Summer White gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Summer White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Gardenia vs Summer White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gardenia on one side and Summer White 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 Gardenia comparisons
See how Gardenia stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reads slightly lighter (LRV 83 vs 78), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 78 vs 52, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 78 vs 30, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 78 vs 60, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 78 vs 43, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (84 vs 78) makes Pure White the marginally brighter of the two.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
Gardenia reads slightly lighter (LRV 78 vs 74), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Gardenia reads slightly lighter (LRV 78 vs 68), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Gardenia reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 78 vs 31, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 78 vs 7, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 78 vs 24, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 78 vs 57, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.