Sturdy Brown vs Umber
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (8 vs 10), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. Both lean warm, 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, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Sturdy Brown vs Umber Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Sturdy Brown on one side and Umber 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 Sturdy Brown comparisons
See how Sturdy Brown stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 8, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 8, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 8, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 8, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Sturdy Brown reads slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 8, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (13 vs 8) makes Bancha the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 8, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 8, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 8, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 8, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (12 vs 8) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 8, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Treron reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (12 vs 8) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 8, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
With LRVs of 8 and 7, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 8), opening up a space where Sturdy Brown encloses it.