Cushing Green vs Downing Slate
Cushing Green (Benjamin Moore) and Downing Slate (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Cushing Green reads as green-grey, while Downing Slate reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 3-point LRV gap — 21 for Downing Slate vs 18 for Cushing Green — means Downing Slate will open up a space more effectively. Where Cushing Green leans green, Downing Slate reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 14.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cushing Green vs Downing Slate in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cushing Green and Downing Slate in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
Cushing Green vs Downing Slate Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cushing Green on one side and Downing Slate 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 Cushing Green comparisons
See how Cushing Green stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
