Boulder vs Iron Ore
Boulder is a Cloverdale Paint color while Iron Ore comes from Sherwin-Williams. Boulder reads as beige-greige, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 39 vs 6, Boulder will read as the brighter of the two — a 33-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 41.9, 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.
Boulder vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Boulder 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
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. Boulder returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Boulder will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Boulder will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Dining Room
Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Boulder reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
Boulder vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Boulder 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 Boulder comparisons
See how Boulder stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
