Match Bittersweet Stem
Sherwin-Williams Bittersweet Stem is a mid-tone shade, warm in character with an LRV of 48. The matches below are the closest equivalents available across every brand on Pontata, ranked by ΔE — a perceptual color difference score. A ΔE under 3 is subtle; under 10 is noticeable but harmonious; above 25 means genuinely different colors.
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Closest matches across every brand
One match per brand, ranked by ΔE — a perceptual color difference score calculated from Lab color space values. Lower is closer. Click any card to compare side by side in simulated rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 48), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 0.7 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 47), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 0.9 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 48), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 1.2 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 46), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 1.3 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 49 vs 48), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 1.4 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 47), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 1.5 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 47), so neither reads brighter in a room. The ΔE 3.7 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.
With LRVs of 48 and 48, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 3.7 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Observe reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 3.7 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
With LRVs of 49 and 48, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 6.1 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 49 vs 48), so neither reads brighter in a room. The ΔE 6.9 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.
A 5-point LRV gap (53 vs 48) makes S 2005-Y40R the marginally brighter of the two. The ΔE 7.1 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.
RAL 210-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 8.7 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Ivory reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 9.6 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.