Smoke Grey vs Iron Ore
Smoke Grey (Dulux) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Smoke Grey reads as blue-grey, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 24-point LRV gap — 30 for Smoke Grey vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Smoke Grey will open up a space more effectively. Where Smoke Grey leans cool, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 32.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smoke Grey vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Smoke Grey 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. Smoke Grey 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. Smoke Grey returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Smoke Grey returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Smoke Grey vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smoke Grey 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 Smoke Grey comparisons
See how Smoke Grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
