Cobalt Embrace vs Iron Ore
Where Cobalt Embrace belongs to Dulux's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Cobalt Embrace reads as blue, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Cobalt Embrace (LRV 9) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Cobalt Embrace runs cool while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 35.9, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cobalt Embrace vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cobalt Embrace 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Cobalt Embrace gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Cobalt Embrace reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Cobalt Embrace reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Cobalt Embrace vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cobalt Embrace 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 Cobalt Embrace comparisons
See how Cobalt Embrace stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 9, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 9, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 9, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 9, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (9 vs 4) makes Cobalt Embrace the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 9), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 9, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 9, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 9, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 9 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 9, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 9), opening up a space where Cobalt Embrace encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 9, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.