Opaline vs Perle Noir
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Opaline belongs to the green-grey family and Perle Noir to the grey family. Opaline (LRV 73) reflects noticeably more light than Perle Noir (LRV 8), a difference of 65 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. With a ΔE of 55.8, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Opaline vs Perle Noir in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Opaline and Perle Noir in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Opaline reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Perle Noir.
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. Opaline reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Perle Noir.
Color Details
Opaline vs Perle Noir Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Opaline on one side and Perle Noir 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 Opaline comparisons
See how Opaline stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 10-point LRV gap (83 vs 73) makes White Dove the marginally brighter of the two.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 73 vs 58, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 27, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 73 vs 55, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 44, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reads slightly lighter (LRV 84 vs 73), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (73 vs 66) makes Opaline the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 74 vs 73), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 73 vs 12, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (73 vs 68) makes Opaline the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 73 vs 12, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 45, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Opaline reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 57), opening up a space where Guilford Green encloses it.