Beige vs Downing Straw
Where Beige belongs to RAL Classic's range, Downing Straw is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. Beige (LRV 48) reflects noticeably more light than Downing Straw (LRV 43), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. At ΔE 2.3, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Beige vs Downing Straw in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Beige and Downing Straw 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.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Beige reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Beige vs Downing Straw Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Beige on one side and Downing Straw 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 Beige comparisons
See how Beige stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 48), opening up a space where Beige encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (52 vs 48) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 48 vs 30, Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 48, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (48 vs 43) makes Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 48, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 48), opening up a space where Beige encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 48), opening up a space where Beige encloses it.
Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 48), opening up a space where Beige encloses it.
Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 48 and 45, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 48 vs 31, Beige is decisively the brighter choice.