Oatmeal vs Smoke Screen paint color comparison

Oatmeal vs Smoke Screen

OatmealPPGvsSmoke ScreenPPGΔE 19.3 — Distinct difference

Both are PPG colors. Oatmeal reads as beige-greige, while Smoke Screen reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 76 vs 47, Oatmeal will read as the brighter of the two — a 29-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 19.3, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 10 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Oatmeal vs Smoke Screen in Real Spaces

10 real rooms side by side. Seeing Oatmeal and Smoke Screen 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. Oatmeal returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

OatmealA cozy living room painted in Oatmeal

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenA cozy living room painted in Smoke Screen

@simplywalldecor

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Oatmeal will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smoke Screen would.

OatmealA traditional bedroom painted in Oatmeal

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenA traditional bedroom painted in Smoke Screen

@simplywalldecor

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Oatmeal will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smoke Screen would.

OatmealOatmeal — industrial kitchen

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenSmoke Screen — industrial kitchen

@simplywalldecor

Dining Room

Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Oatmeal reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smoke Screen.

OatmealOatmeal paint in a minimalist dining room

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenSmoke Screen paint in a mid century dining room

@simplywalldecor

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Oatmeal will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smoke Screen would.

OatmealOatmeal — industrial bathroom

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenSmoke Screen — industrial bathroom

@simplywalldecor

Home Office

In a home office, wall color sits in your peripheral vision for hours at a time, so temperature and undertone matter more than you might expect. The LRV gap is large enough that Oatmeal will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smoke Screen would.

OatmealPPG Oatmeal in a industrial home office

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenPPG Smoke Screen in a minimalist home office

@simplywalldecor

Mudroom

A mudroom color needs to hold up under the most casual scrutiny: a glance as you're coming and going, often in mixed or artificial light. Oatmeal reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smoke Screen.

OatmealOatmeal paint in a neutral mudroom

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenSmoke Screen paint in a rustic modern mudroom

@simplywalldecor

Patio

Patio colors are seen under changing outdoor light throughout the day — morning, midday, and golden hour each reveal different qualities. Oatmeal reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smoke Screen.

Oatmealrustic modern patio featuring Oatmeal by PPG

@simplywalldecor

Smoke Screenwabi-sabi patio featuring Smoke Screen by PPG

@simplywalldecor

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Oatmeal will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smoke Screen would.

OatmealOatmeal color — eclectic house inspiration

@simplywalldecor

Smoke ScreenSmoke Screen color — transitional house inspiration

@simplywalldecor

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Oatmeal returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Oatmealtraditional front door featuring Oatmeal by PPG

@simplywalldecor

Smoke Screenminimalist front door featuring Smoke Screen by PPG

@simplywalldecor

Color Details

Oatmeal
PPG · PPG1023-1
LRV76.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG1023-1
Undertone—
Temperature—
BrightnessLight
Smoke Screen
PPG · PPG1038-4
LRV47.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG1038-4
Undertone—
Temperature—
BrightnessMedium

Oatmeal vs Smoke Screen Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Oatmeal on one side and Smoke Screen on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.