Steel Symphony 4 vs Upward
Steel Symphony 4 (Dulux) and Upward (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Steel Symphony 4 belongs to the blue-grey family and Upward to the blue family. The 3-point LRV gap — 57 for Upward vs 54 for Steel Symphony 4 — means Upward will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 2.3 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steel Symphony 4 vs Upward in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Steel Symphony 4 and Upward 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.
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. Upward reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Upward has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Steel Symphony 4 vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Symphony 4 on one side and Upward 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 Symphony 4 comparisons
See how Steel Symphony 4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
