Muted Sage vs Iron Ore
Muted Sage (Behr) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Muted Sage belongs to the greige-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 22-point LRV gap — 28 for Muted Sage vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Muted Sage will open up a space more effectively. Where Muted Sage leans yellow, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 32.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Muted Sage vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Muted Sage 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.
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. Muted Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Muted Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Muted Sage vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Muted Sage on one side and Iron Ore 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 Muted Sage comparisons
See how Muted Sage stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 28, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 28, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 28), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 28, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
With LRVs of 28 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 28, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 28 vs 4, Muted Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
Muted Sage reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 28, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (28 vs 21) makes Muted Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
Muted Sage reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 28, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 28, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 28 vs 25), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Muted Sage reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 28), opening up a space where Muted Sage encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (31 vs 28) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 28 vs 7, Muted Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (28 vs 24) makes Muted Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 28, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 28, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.