Yarmouth Blue vs Iron Ore
Yarmouth Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Yarmouth Blue belongs to the blue family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 50-point LRV gap — 56 for Yarmouth Blue vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Yarmouth Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Yarmouth Blue leans blue, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 51.4 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.
Yarmouth Blue vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Yarmouth Blue 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. Yarmouth Blue 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. Yarmouth Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Yarmouth Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Mudroom
In a hardworking space like a mudroom, the depth and warmth of a color reads differently than in a quieter room. The LRV gap is large enough that Yarmouth Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
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. Yarmouth Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Yarmouth Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
Yarmouth Blue vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Yarmouth Blue 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 Yarmouth Blue comparisons
See how Yarmouth Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
