Soft Sage vs Softened Green

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Soft Sage reads as greige-grey, while Softened Green reads as green-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. With LRVs of 50 and 49, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. They share a neutral quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 3.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Soft Sage vs Softened Green in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Soft Sage and Softened Green 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.

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Soft SageSoft Sage Bedroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Softened GreenSw 6177 Nursery

@johnrowan_the_painter

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Soft SageSoft Sage Kitchen

@mybudgetrecipes

Softened GreenSherwin Williams SW 6177 kitchen color

@leurapaint

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Soft SageSoft Sage Bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Softened GreenSW Softened Green bathroom interior

@functionalcolor

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Soft SageSoft Sage House

@mybudgetrecipes

Softened GreenSW Softened Green house exterior paint review

@kindhomesolutions

Color Details

Soft Sage
Sherwin-Williams · 9647
Hex#BCBCAE
LRV49.5
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9647
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Softened Green
Sherwin-Williams · 6177
Hex#BBBCA7
LRV49.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6177
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Soft Sage vs Softened Green Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Soft Sage on one side and Softened Green on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Soft Sage comparisons

See how Soft Sage stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Soft Sage
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Soft Sage
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Soft Sage
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Soft Sage
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Soft Sage
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Soft Sage reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Soft Sage
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Soft Sage
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Soft Sage
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Soft Sage reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Soft Sage
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Soft Sage
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Soft Sage
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Soft Sage
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Soft Sage reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Soft Sage
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Soft Sage
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Black grey
Soft Sage
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Piazza
Soft Sage
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Soft Sage
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Soft Sage
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Soft Sage reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Soft Sage
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Soft Sage reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
Soft Sage
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Soft Sage
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Soft Sage
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Soft Sage
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Soft Sage reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Soft Sage
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Soft Sage is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Soft Sage
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Nearly identical in tone

Teton Blue
Soft Sage
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Soft Sage reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Soft Sage
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Soft Sage
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Soft Sage
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Soft Sage
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Soft Sage is the lighter choice