Mediterranean vs Shoji White
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Mediterranean reads as blue-grey, while Shoji White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Shoji White (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Mediterranean (LRV 18), a difference of 57 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Mediterranean runs cool while Shoji White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 42.6, 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 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Mediterranean vs Shoji White in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Mediterranean and Shoji White in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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 LRV gap is large enough that Shoji White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Mediterranean would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Mediterranean.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Mediterranean.
Color Details
Mediterranean vs Shoji White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mediterranean on one side and Shoji 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 Mediterranean comparisons
See how Mediterranean stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 18, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Mediterranean reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 18, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 18, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 18, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 18, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 18 vs 4, Mediterranean is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
Mediterranean reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 18, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (21 vs 18) makes Artichoke the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
Mediterranean reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 18, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 18, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (25 vs 18) makes Treron the marginally brighter of the two.
Mediterranean reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 18), opening up a space where Mediterranean encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 18, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (18 vs 7) makes Mediterranean the marginally brighter of the two.
A 7-point LRV gap (24 vs 18) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 18, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 18, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.