Blue Heron vs Iron Ore

Blue HeronBenjamin MoorevsIron OreSherwin-WilliamsΔE 24.2Distinct difference

Blue Heron is a Benjamin Moore color while Iron Ore comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Blue Heron belongs to the blue family and Iron Ore to the grey family. At LRV 16 vs 6, Blue Heron will read as the brighter of the two — a 10-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Blue Heron's blue character against Iron Ore's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 24.2, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Blue Heron vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Blue Heron 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

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Blue Heron will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.

Blue Heron832 Bedroom Accent Wall

@mcgpropsol

Iron OreBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore

@mybudgetrecipes

Dining Room

Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Blue Heron reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.

Blue Heron832 Dining Room

@graygardenscraftsman

Iron OreBlack walls in a dining room Sherwin Williams Iron Ore 7069

@cozywhitehouse

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Blue Heron will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.

Blue HeronBenjamin Moore Blue Heron bathroom

@creativewalldesignsct

Iron OreGray bathroom in Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams

@mybudgetrecipes

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Blue Heron returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Blue HeronBenjamin Moore Blue Heron Front Door

@begrace22

Iron OreGray front door with Iron Ore SW 7069

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Blue Heron will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.

Blue HeronBenjamin Moore Blue Heron Kitchen Cabinets

@kerrypottlecan

Iron OreSw Iron Ore Painted Cabinets

@fieldandforestdesign

Color Details

Blue Heron
Benjamin Moore · 832
Hex#5C6A85
LRV15.8
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number832
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams · 7069
Hex#434341
LRV5.5
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7069
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Blue Heron vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Blue Heron on one side and Iron Ore on the other.

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.

More Blue Heron comparisons

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

White Dove
Blue Heron
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Blue Heron
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Blue Heron
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Blue Heron
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Blue Heron
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Blue Heron
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Accessible Beige
Blue Heron
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Blue Heron
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Blue Heron
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Blue Heron
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Blue Heron
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Blue Heron reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Blue Heron
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Blue Heron
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Blue Heron reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Blue Heron
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Blue Heron
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Blue Heron reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Blue Heron
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Blue Heron
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Blue Heron
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Blue Heron
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Blue Heron
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Blue Heron reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Blue Heron
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Blue Heron
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Nearly identical in tone

Thames Fog
Blue Heron
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Blue Heron
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Blue Heron reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Blue Heron
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Blue Heron
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Blue Heron
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Blue Heron
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Blue Heron
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Blue Heron
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Nearly identical in tone