Tawny Owl vs Iron Ore
Tawny Owl (Dulux) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Tawny Owl belongs to the greige-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 5-point LRV gap — 10 for Tawny Owl vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Tawny Owl will open up a space more effectively. Where Tawny Owl leans warm, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 12.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Tawny Owl vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Tawny Owl 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. Tawny Owl reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Tawny Owl vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Tawny Owl 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 Tawny Owl comparisons
See how Tawny Owl stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
