Mink vs Poised Taupe
Mink and Poised Taupe come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 20 vs 22 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Mink leans neutral, Poised Taupe reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.9 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Mink vs Poised Taupe in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Mink and Poised Taupe 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Poised Taupe brings more warmth to the space, while Mink keeps things cooler and crisper.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Mink reads more restrained here, while Poised Taupe adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Mink reads more restrained here, while Poised Taupe adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Mink reads more restrained here, while Poised Taupe adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Mink vs Poised Taupe Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mink on one side and Poised Taupe 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 Mink comparisons
See how Mink stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 20, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (30 vs 20) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 20, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 20), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 20, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 20, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
Mink reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
Mink reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 20), opening up a space where Mink encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (31 vs 20) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
A 4-point LRV gap (24 vs 20) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 20, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.