Backdrop vs Smokehouse
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both greige-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within greige-grey to land. At LRV 20 vs 13, Backdrop will read as the brighter of the two — a 7-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a warm quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 9.6, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Backdrop vs Smokehouse in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Backdrop and Smokehouse 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. Backdrop has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Backdrop gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Backdrop vs Smokehouse Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Backdrop on one side and Smokehouse 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 Backdrop comparisons
See how Backdrop stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
