Steel Wool vs Matrix
Steel Wool is a Benjamin Moore color while Matrix comes from Jotun. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. With LRVs of 21 and 20, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Steel Wool's blue character against Matrix's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. With a ΔE of 2.3, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steel Wool vs Matrix in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Steel Wool and Matrix 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.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.
Color Details
Steel Wool vs Matrix Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Wool on one side and Matrix 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 Steel Wool comparisons
See how Steel Wool stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
