Alloy vs Zinc Luster
Alloy and Zinc Luster come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Alloy belongs to the grey family and Zinc Luster to the greige-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 25 vs 23 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Alloy leans neutral, Zinc Luster reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 5.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Alloy vs Zinc Luster in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Alloy and Zinc Luster 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
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. Zinc Luster brings more warmth to the space, while Alloy keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Alloy reads more restrained here, while Zinc Luster adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
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. Alloy reads more restrained here, while Zinc Luster adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Alloy vs Zinc Luster Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alloy on one side and Zinc Luster 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.
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.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 24), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 25, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.