Gentian vs Spatial White
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Gentian belongs to the blue family and Spatial White to the grey-white family. Spatial White (LRV 72) reflects noticeably more light than Gentian (LRV 18), a difference of 54 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Gentian runs cool while Spatial White is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 49.5, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Gentian vs Spatial White in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Gentian and Spatial White in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Spatial White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gentian.
Color Details
Gentian vs Spatial White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gentian on one side and Spatial 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 Gentian comparisons
See how Gentian stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 18, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 18, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (27 vs 18) makes Denim Drift the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 18, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 18, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 18, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 18, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (18 vs 12) makes Gentian the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 18, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (18 vs 12) makes Gentian the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 18, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.
Gentian reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cement grey reads slightly lighter (LRV 24 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 18), opening up a space where Gentian encloses it.