Acier vs Felted Wool paint color comparison

Acier vs Felted Wool

AcierSherwin-WilliamsvsFelted WoolSherwin-WilliamsΔE 4.5 — Noticeable difference

Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Acier belongs to the grey family and Felted Wool to the greige-grey family. Acier (LRV 32) reflects noticeably more light than Felted Wool (LRV 28), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Acier runs neutral while Felted Wool is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 4.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Acier vs Felted Wool in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Acier and Felted Wool are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

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 brightness difference is modest but present — Acier gives the walls a little more lift.

AcierSW Acier wall paint

@fspomaha

Felted WoolFelted Wool Living Room

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Acier reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

AcierSW Acier garage door exterior paint

@vivaxpros_atx

Felted WoolFelted Wool House

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Acier reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

AcierSW Acier painted cabinets

@webbstead

Felted WoolSW Felted Wool kitchen cabinets review

@kraftykristin79

Color Details

Acier
Sherwin-Williams · 9170
LRV32.0
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9170
Undertone—
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Felted Wool
Sherwin-Williams · 9171
LRV28.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9171
Undertone—
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Acier vs Felted Wool Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Acier on one side and Felted Wool 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.