Ablaze vs Black Fox
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Ablaze reads as pink-red, while Black Fox reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Ablaze (LRV 16) reflects noticeably more light than Black Fox (LRV 7), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 55.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ablaze vs Black Fox in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Ablaze and Black Fox 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Ablaze will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Fox would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Ablaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Fox.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Ablaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Fox.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Ablaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Fox.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Ablaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Fox.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Ablaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Fox.
Color Details
Ablaze vs Black Fox Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ablaze on one side and Black Fox 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.