Auger Shell vs Browse Brown paint color comparison

Auger Shell vs Browse Brown

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. At LRV 30 vs 13, Auger Shell will read as the brighter of the two — a 17-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a neutral quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 19.4, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 10 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Auger Shell vs Browse Brown in Real Spaces

10 real rooms side by side. Seeing Auger Shell and Browse Brown 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

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. Auger Shell returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Auger ShellA organic modern living room painted in Auger Shell

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Browse BrownA minimalist living room painted in Browse Brown

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Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Auger Shell will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Browse Brown would.

Auger ShellA scandinavian bedroom painted in Auger Shell

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Browse BrownA art deco bedroom painted in Browse Brown

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Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Auger Shell will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Browse Brown would.

Auger ShellAuger Shell — classy kitchen

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Browse BrownBrowse Brown — contemporary kitchen

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Dining Room

Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Auger Shell reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Browse Brown.

Auger ShellAuger Shell paint in a minimalist dining room

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Browse BrownBrowse Brown paint in a mid century dining room

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Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Auger Shell will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Browse Brown would.

Auger ShellAuger Shell — wabi-sabi bathroom

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Browse BrownBrowse Brown — earthy bathroom

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Home Office

In a home office, wall color sits in your peripheral vision for hours at a time, so temperature and undertone matter more than you might expect. The LRV gap is large enough that Auger Shell will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Browse Brown would.

Auger ShellSherwin-Williams Auger Shell in a contemporary home office

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Browse BrownSherwin-Williams Browse Brown in a neutral home office

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Mudroom

A mudroom color needs to hold up under the most casual scrutiny: a glance as you're coming and going, often in mixed or artificial light. Auger Shell reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Browse Brown.

Auger ShellAuger Shell paint in a small mudroom

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Browse BrownBrowse Brown paint in a small mudroom

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Patio

Patio colors are seen under changing outdoor light throughout the day — morning, midday, and golden hour each reveal different qualities. Auger Shell reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Browse Brown.

Auger Shellminimalist patio featuring Auger Shell by Sherwin-Williams

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Browse Brownmediterranean patio featuring Browse Brown by Sherwin-Williams

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House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Auger Shell will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Browse Brown would.

Auger ShellAuger Shell color — aesthetic house inspiration

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Browse BrownBrowse Brown color — transitional house inspiration

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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. Auger Shell returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Auger Shellscandinavian front door featuring Auger Shell by Sherwin-Williams

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Browse Brownbold front door featuring Browse Brown by Sherwin-Williams

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Color Details

Auger Shell
Sherwin-Williams · 9159
LRV30.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9159
Undertone—
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Browse Brown
Sherwin-Williams · 6012
LRV12.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6012
Undertone—
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Auger Shell vs Browse Brown Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Auger Shell on one side and Browse Brown 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.