Alloy vs Elephant Ear
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Alloy belongs to the grey family and Elephant Ear to the greige-grey family. At LRV 28 vs 25, Elephant Ear will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Alloy's neutral character against Elephant Ear's warm — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 3.1, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Alloy vs Elephant Ear in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Alloy and Elephant Ear 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
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. Alloy reads more restrained here, while Elephant Ear adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The temperature contrast between Elephant Ear and Alloy is what sets these apart most in this context.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The temperature contrast between Elephant Ear and Alloy is what sets these apart most in this context.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The temperature contrast between Elephant Ear and Alloy is what sets these apart most in this context.
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. Alloy reads more restrained here, while Elephant Ear adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Alloy vs Elephant Ear Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alloy on one side and Elephant Ear 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.