Rectory Red vs Iron Ore
Rectory Red (Farrow & Ball) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Rectory Red belongs to the pink-red family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 6-point LRV gap — 11 for Rectory Red vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Rectory Red will open up a space more effectively. Where Rectory Red leans warm, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 48.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Rectory Red vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Rectory Red 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.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Rectory Red has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Rectory Red vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Rectory Red 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 Rectory Red comparisons
See how Rectory Red stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 11, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 11, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 11, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 11, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Rectory Red reads slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 11, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 44 vs 11, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Artichoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 11), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 11, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 11, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 11, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 12 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 11, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Treron reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 12 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 45 vs 11, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Rectory Red reads slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 11), opening up a space where Rectory Red encloses it.