Aleutian vs Icy
Aleutian and Icy come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. The 18-point LRV gap — 56 for Icy vs 38 for Aleutian — means Icy will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 11.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Aleutian vs Icy in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Aleutian and Icy 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Icy reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Aleutian.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Icy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Icy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Icy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Icy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Aleutian vs Icy Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Aleutian on one side and Icy 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 Aleutian comparisons
See how Aleutian stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 38), opening up a space where Aleutian encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 38, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (38 vs 30) makes Aleutian the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 38, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 38), opening up a space where Aleutian encloses it.
Aleutian reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 38) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 38), opening up a space where Aleutian encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 38, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 38), opening up a space where Aleutian encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 38), opening up a space where Aleutian encloses it.
Aleutian reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 38), opening up a space where Aleutian encloses it.
Aleutian reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (38 vs 31) makes Aleutian the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 38 vs 7, Aleutian is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 24, Aleutian is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 38, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.