Merlot vs Iron Ore
Where Merlot belongs to PPG's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, Merlot belongs to the pink family and Iron Ore to the grey family. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (7 vs 6), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. With a ΔE of 24.4, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Merlot vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Merlot 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 Merlot comparisons
See how Merlot stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
