Hampshire Gray vs Iron Ore
Hampshire Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Hampshire Gray belongs to the greige-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 20-point LRV gap — 25 for Hampshire Gray vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Hampshire Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Hampshire Gray leans yellow, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 31.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Hampshire Gray vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Hampshire Gray 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.
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. Hampshire Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
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. Hampshire Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Hampshire Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Hampshire Gray 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. Hampshire Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Hampshire Gray vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hampshire Gray 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 Hampshire Gray comparisons
See how Hampshire Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
