Steel Curtain vs Rock Garden
Steel Curtain is a PPG color while Rock Garden comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Steel Curtain belongs to the grey family and Rock Garden to the green-grey family. At LRV 34 vs 8, Steel Curtain will read as the brighter of the two — a 26-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 31.5, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steel Curtain vs Rock Garden in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steel Curtain and Rock Garden 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. Steel Curtain returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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 Steel Curtain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rock Garden would.
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 Steel Curtain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rock Garden would.
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 Steel Curtain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rock Garden would.
Patio
Patio colors are seen under changing outdoor light throughout the day — morning, midday, and golden hour each reveal different qualities. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rock Garden.
Color Details
Steel Curtain vs Rock Garden Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Curtain on one side and Rock Garden 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 Steel Curtain comparisons
See how Steel Curtain stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
