Pure White vs Steam
Where Pure White belongs to Sherwin-Williams's range, Steam is a Tikkurila color. Hue-wise, Pure White belongs to the beige-greige family and Steam to the greige-white family. Pure White (LRV 84) reflects noticeably more light than Steam (LRV 79), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. At ΔE 2.1, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Pure White vs Steam in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Pure White and Steam 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 brightness difference is modest but present — Pure White gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Pure White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Pure White vs Steam Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pure White on one side and Steam 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 Pure White comparisons
See how Pure White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
