Nebulous White vs Passive
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Nebulous White belongs to the grey-white family and Passive to the grey family. Nebulous White (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Passive (LRV 60), a difference of 14 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 6.8 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.
Nebulous White vs Passive in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Nebulous White and Passive 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 LRV gap is large enough that Nebulous White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Passive would.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Nebulous White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Nebulous White vs Passive Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Nebulous White on one side and Passive 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 Nebulous White comparisons
See how Nebulous White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
