Graphic Charcoal vs Iron Ore

Behr
·
Sherwin-Williams

Graphic Charcoal (Behr) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. The 6-point LRV gap — 11 for Graphic Charcoal vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Graphic Charcoal will open up a space more effectively. Where Graphic Charcoal leans blue, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 11.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives.

Graphic Charcoal vs Iron Ore Color Comparison

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.

ΔE 11.6Distinct difference

Color Details

Graphic Charcoal
Behr · N500-6
Hex#5c5e5f
LRV11.3
BrandBehr
NumberN500-6
UndertoneBlue
Temperatureneutral
Brightnessdark
View Graphic Charcoal
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams · 7069
Hex#434341
LRV5.5
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7069
Undertone
Temperatureneutral
Brightnessdark
View Iron Ore

Graphic Charcoal vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces

Seeing Graphic Charcoal and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete. Browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall. Showing 5 room types where both colors have photos.

Living Room

A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Graphic Charcoal reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Graphic Charcoal
Behr N500-6 living room paint review

@danielle.davison.18

Iron Ore
Iron Ore SW 7069 living room

@mybudgetrecipes

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Graphic Charcoal has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Graphic Charcoal
Behr Graphic Charcoal bedroom accent wall paint

@abby_schannauer_realtor

Iron Ore
Bedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore

@mybudgetrecipes

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Graphic Charcoal has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Graphic Charcoal
Behr Graphic Charcoal bathroom color review

@madebycarli

Iron Ore
Gray bathroom in Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams

@mybudgetrecipes

House

A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Graphic Charcoal has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Graphic Charcoal
Behr Graphic Charcoal exterior paint

@storyofthislife

Iron Ore
Iron Ore house color review

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Graphic Charcoal has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Graphic Charcoal
Behr N500-6 kitchen cabinets color

@prandowoodandtrim

Iron Ore
Sw Iron Ore Painted Cabinets

@fieldandforestdesign

More Graphic Charcoal comparisons

See how Graphic Charcoal stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

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Black grey
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Humble Yellow
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Lamp Black
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Washed Linen
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Ocean Abyss
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RAL 180-1
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S 8000-N
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S 0502-Y
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