Onyx vs Cascades
Onyx is a Benjamin Moore color while Cascades comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Onyx belongs to the grey family and Cascades to the blue family. With LRVs of 5 and 4, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Onyx's red character against Cascades's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 10.2, 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.
Onyx vs Cascades in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Onyx and Cascades 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Onyx reads more restrained here, while Cascades adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The temperature contrast between Cascades and Onyx is what sets these apart most in this context.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The temperature contrast between Cascades and Onyx is what sets these apart most in this context.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The temperature contrast between Cascades and Onyx is what sets these apart most in this context.
Color Details
Onyx vs Cascades Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Onyx on one side and Cascades 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 Onyx comparisons
See how Onyx stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
