Herbal Wash vs Messenger Bag
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Herbal Wash belongs to the beige-greige family and Messenger Bag to the greige-grey family. Herbal Wash (LRV 33) reflects noticeably more light than Messenger Bag (LRV 18), a difference of 15 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 15.1, 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
Herbal Wash vs Messenger Bag Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Herbal Wash on one side and Messenger Bag 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 Herbal Wash comparisons
See how Herbal Wash stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 33), opening up a space where Herbal Wash encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 33, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 6, Herbal Wash is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 33), opening up a space where Herbal Wash encloses it.
With LRVs of 33 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 33, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 33), opening up a space where Herbal Wash encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 33, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (33 vs 27) makes Herbal Wash the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 33), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Herbal Wash reflects far more light (LRV 33 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 33, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 13, Herbal Wash is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (44 vs 33) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 33), opening up a space where Herbal Wash encloses it.
Herbal Wash reads slightly lighter (LRV 33 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 33, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 33, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 33, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 33), opening up a space where Herbal Wash encloses it.
At LRV 33 vs 12, Herbal Wash is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 8, Herbal Wash is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 33, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 33), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 33 vs 12, Herbal Wash is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 33, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 33 and 31, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.