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.
More Alloy comparisons
See how Alloy stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 25, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (30 vs 25) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 25, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
With LRVs of 27 and 25, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 25, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 25, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
Alloy reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 25), opening up a space where Alloy encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (31 vs 25) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.