Manchester Tan Vs Accessible Beige: Choose The Best For Your Home 

Picking between Manchester Tan Vs Accessible Beige can be difficult because both are best neutral paint colors.

Manchester Tan (Benjamin Moore HC-81) and Accessible Beige (Sherwin-Williams SW 7036) are at the top when it comes to warm, livable neutrals.

These two get compared across Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore forums, and I get why homeowners and designers get confused with this.

The undertones are difficult to understand.

What looks perfect on a paint swatches can turn your south-facing living room into a yellow room or make your north-facing bedroom feel like a cave. 

We’re breaking down the differences in Manchester Tan Vs Accessible Beige.

LRV numbers, undertones that shift in different light, how each performs room by room, and what they pair with.

I’ll compare them to colors because you’re considering those too.

What to Know About Manchester Tan (Benjamin Moore HC-81)

Manchester Tan is always warm and inviting but never over the top. It’s beige, not greige OR not tan gray.

The LRV is around 63-64, which means it reflects a good amount of light without fading away. 

The color is earthy and creamy. There’s a softness that feels traditional rather than trendy.

It doesn’t try to be that modern greige everyone’s been obsessed with.

Instead, Manchester Tan feels rich and more saturated than the beige.

Undertones are warm yellow-beige with subtle golden notes.

In south-facing rooms with strong natural light, that yellow can push forward, something to know.

The color has a gray in it which makes it good.

Benjamin Moore includes this paint in their Historical Collection because it’s one of their best-selling colors.

Designers love it for living rooms where you want warmth without going tan. 

What to Know About Accessible Beige (Sherwin-Williams SW 7036)

Accessible Beige is cooler and is warm greige, the zone where beige meets gray.

The LRV is around 58, so it’s dark and more muted than Manchester Tan.

It absorbs light, which gives it depth but can make it feel heavy in rooms that don’t get sunlight.

Accessible Beige has subtle gray undertones with a touch of green.

That green is muted, but it can show up with warm wood trim or in lighting.

North-facing rooms will pull that gray forward, making it look more taupe than beige.

The gray base makes it versatile.

It bridges the gap between warm and cool, so if you’ve got gray tile in the bathroom and honey oak in the hallway then Accessible Beige holds it together.

It’s one of Sherwin-Williams’ best-selling neutrals because it feels modern and grounded.

There’s warmth,cozy and moderate. It’s darker than Manchester Tan, and adds dimension to large rooms and open floor plans.

Designers use it everywhere like living rooms that are contemporary, bedrooms that need calm, kitchens with mixed finishes.

What is the Difference Between Manchester Tan and Accessible Beige?

Okay, so they’re both neutral, both warm, both popular.

But they create different moods depending on your room’s light, layout, and existing finishes.

One can save your space while the other makes you repaint. So, let’s go through it and get to know the difference.

LRV

Manchester Tan is at LRV 63-64. That means it’s reflecting light back into the room.

Spaces feel bright, more open and it is great for small rooms or areas that need lifting.

The color maintains its warmth when light bounces around.

Accessible Beige comes in at LRV 58. Lower number means less light reflection.

It is deep and rich. In rooms with natural light, it is perfect because it adds sophistication without going dark. But in low-light spaces it feels muddy.

Undertones

Manchester Tan has warm yellow-beige undertones with soft golden notes.

It stays in the yellow hue family, which keeps it feeling traditional and cozy.

In bright south-facing light, you may catch a hint of green, but that’s rare. 

Accessible Beige brings gray undertones, with the muted green.

The beige is there, but it’s tempered by gray, which cools it down.

Depending on your lighting and what’s around it, it can shift between beige, greige, and taupe and the gray influence makes it modern.

Lighting Impact

North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light.

Manchester Tan feels warm here but less golden and Accessible Beige, it’ll lean grayer, almost sad-looking if there’s no artificial light to balance it.

South-facing rooms get intense, warm. Manchester Tan can be a bit yellow but not always bad.

Accessible Beige performs beautifully in south light because that gray undertone keeps it from going too warm.

East and west-facing rooms shift throughout the day.

Morning east light is soft and cool; evening west light is golden and intense.

Both colors will change personality from AM to PM.

The color temperature of the light bulbs plays a role. Low Kelvin bulbs give warm yellow light, which will shine Manchester Tan’s warmth.

High Kelvin bulbs produce cooler white-blue light that’ll emphasize Accessible Beige’s gray side.

Always test samples in your lighting before committing.

Grab peel-and-stick samples from Samplize or paint poster boards you can move around the room at different times of day.

Warmth and Depth

Manchester Tan creates warmth through brightness.

The high LRV means light bounces, spaces feel lifted, and there’s a sense of airiness.

The yellow undertones wrap the room in a subtle glow.

It’s warm without being heavy and perfect for small spaces that need opening up or rooms.

Accessible Beige creates warmth through depth. The low LRV and gray influence give visual weight.

The room feels grounded and contained in a sophisticated way.

There’s warmth, but it’s quiet, restrained.

Works beautifully in large open-concept spaces that need anchoring or modern rooms that want space.

Style Compatibility and Best Uses

Manchester Tan loves:

• Traditional interiors 
• Warm hardwood floors like oak, maple, honey tones
• Cream or beige tile
• Warm white trim 
• Timeless, transitional spaces

Accessible Beige loves:

• Contemporary and transitional-modern spaces
• Mixed warm-cool palettes
• Gray or greige tile
• Medium to dark wood floors
• Bright neutral whites
• Open floor plans needing flow

Flat or matte shows the true color but shows marks.

Eggshell is the spot for walls which hides imperfections, is easy to clean, and doesn’t distort color much.

Satin works for high-traffic areas.

Both colors look richer in low sheens and light in semi-gloss.

Aspect	Manchester Tan HC-81	Accessible Beige SW 7036
LRV	63-64 (bright)	58 (deep)
Undertones	Warm yellow-beige, golden	Gray-beige, muted green
Warmth	Clearly warm, traditional	Warm-neutral, modern
Best Light	Works in most directions	Best in south-facing
Style	Traditional, transitional	Contemporary, transitional
Flooring Pairing	Warm woods, cream tile	Gray tile, mixed tones
Common Issue	Can read yellow in bright south light	Can look gray/muddy in north rooms

Manchester Tan Vs Accessible Beige (Room-By-Room Comparison)

Different rooms have different needs. Light changes, function changes, mood changes.

Here’s how each color performs where you live.

Living Room

Manchester Tan brightens living rooms without trying hard.

If the living room is small or doesn’t get natural light, the LRV of 63-64 is what you should consider for your space.

The warm yellow undertones create an inviting space and pairs well with warm wood furniture and cream upholstery. 

Accessible Beige grounds living rooms, large ones or open-concept spaces.

The deep LRV adds dimension so the room doesn’t feel washed out.

The gray-beige balance works with both warm and cool furniture, which is best if you are mixing metals or have gray sofas with wood accents. 

Bedroom

Manchester Tan creates bedroom softness and creates creamy warmth.

It’s calm without being boring, and the high LRV keeps small bedrooms away from feeling cave-like and it works well in east-facing bedrooms where morning light is gentle.

Pair it with warm white trim and soft textiles for coziness.

Accessible Beige creates a modern, restful bedroom.

The muted tones and gray influence feel sophisticated and calming.

It’s warm to be inviting but cool to feel serene.

Works beautifully in large master bedrooms or rooms with texture, add good lighting and table lamps with warm bulbs.

Bathroom

Manchester Tan makes bathrooms feel spa-like in that traditional, warm kind.

The creamy undertones play well with chrome or brushed nickel fixtures.

Natural light brings warmth, so it’s great for bathrooms with windows. 

Accessible Beige brings modern sophistication to bathrooms.

The gray undertones pair well with contemporary fixtures, gray or white tile, and marble.

It feels clean but not cold. Works well in bathrooms with limited natural light because it doesn’t need sun to look good.

Kitchen

Manchester Tan warms the area of the kitchens with white or cream cabinets.

The traditional warmth complements natural wood, butcher block counters, or warm-toned backsplash.

It’s good in kitchens with oak or maple cabinets but balance it with white trim and good lighting.

Accessible Beige is the move for kitchens with gray or two-tone cabinets.

The greige quality bridges white uppers and gray lowers.

Works with quartz counters, subway tile, stainless steel, and modern kitchen staples.

The low LRV adds coziness to kitchens that feel bright.

Exterior

Manchester Tan on exteriors creates a warm and traditional atmosphere.

The yellow-beige undertones glow in natural sunlight and looks beautiful with white trim, black shutters, or dark roof shingles.

Works well on Colonial, Craftsman, or traditional ranch-style homes.

The warmth feels welcoming without being loud.

Accessible Beige brings visual appeal.

The gray influence feels modern and understated on exteriors.

Pairs well with stone accents, gray roofs, and mixed materials.

Looks good on modern farmhouse or transitional contemporary exteriors.

Manchester Tan Vs Accessible Beige Vs Other Colors

Here’s how they go better with other popular neutrals.

Manchester Tan vs Muslin: Muslin is light and neutral-beige with less warmth.

Manchester Tan has depth and personality.

Clay Beige vs Manchester Tan: Clay Beige leans gray and cool.

Manchester Tan is warm and more golden.

Manchester Tan vs Natural Linen: Natural Linen is light with a gray-beige balance.

Manchester Tan is rich and traditionally warm.

Barcelona Beige vs Accessible Beige: Barcelona Beige is warm and more tan.

Accessible Beige has gray, making it more versatile.

Natural Tan vs Accessible Beige: Natural Tan is lighter and warmer.

Accessible Beige is deeper with gray undertones.

Softer Tan vs Accessible Beige: Softer Tan is soft and light.

Accessible Beige has presence and depth.

Are Tan and Beige the Same?

Beige has more gray or pink undertones, it’s soft, more neutral.

Tan has more yellow, orange, or brown undertones, it’s warm and earthy, closer to tanned leather.

But paint companies use the terms loosely.

Manchester Tan is called “tan” but behaves like a true beige.

Accessible Beige is called “beige” but like greige.

Conclusion

Manchester Tan is your pick if you want traditional warmth, brightness, and a true beige that plays well with warm woods and classic interiors.

It opens up spaces, feels immediately cozy, and doesn’t overthink things.

Accessible Beige is the one if you’re after modern versatility, depth, and a neutral that bridges warm and cool.

It grounds large spaces, works with mixed finishes, and feels sophisticated without going cold.

Test both in your space. Move samples around. Look at them in morning light, afternoon light, with lamps on.

Check them against your floors, your trim, your furniture.

The right neutral is the one that makes your space feel like home. 

FAQs on Manchester Tan vs Accessible Beige