Vandyke Brown vs Downing Slate
Vandyke Brown is a Jotun color while Downing Slate comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Vandyke Brown belongs to the grey family and Downing Slate to the blue-grey family. At LRV 21 vs 18, Downing Slate will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a neutral quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 10.1, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Vandyke Brown vs Downing Slate in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Vandyke Brown and Downing Slate 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Downing Slate has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Downing Slate gives the walls a little more lift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Downing Slate gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Vandyke Brown vs Downing Slate Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Vandyke Brown on one side and Downing Slate 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 Vandyke Brown comparisons
See how Vandyke Brown stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
