Mesa Tan vs Rain Cloud
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Mesa Tan reads as beige, while Rain Cloud reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Mesa Tan (LRV 36) reflects noticeably more light than Rain Cloud (LRV 11), a difference of 25 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Mesa Tan runs warm while Rain Cloud is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 41.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Mesa Tan vs Rain Cloud Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mesa Tan on one side and Rain Cloud 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 Mesa Tan comparisons
See how Mesa Tan stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 36, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 36), opening up a space where Mesa Tan encloses it.
Mesa Tan reads slightly lighter (LRV 36 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 36), opening up a space where Mesa Tan encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 36, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (36 vs 27) makes Mesa Tan the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 36), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 36, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (44 vs 36) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 36), opening up a space where Mesa Tan encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 36, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 36, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 36 vs 12, Mesa Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 36 vs 8, Mesa Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 36, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 36 vs 12, Mesa Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (45 vs 36) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Mesa Tan reads slightly lighter (LRV 36 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.