Plum Martini vs Iron Ore
Plum Martini (Benjamin Moore) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 7 vs 6 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Plum Martini leans red, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 4.5 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Plum Martini vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Plum Martini and Iron Ore are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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.
Color Details
Plum Martini vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Plum Martini 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 Plum Martini comparisons
See how Plum Martini stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 7, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 7, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 7, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 7, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 7, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 7, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 7, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 7, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 7, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 7, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 7), opening up a space where Plum Martini encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 7, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 24 vs 7, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 7, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 7, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.