Cadet vs Iron Ore
Cadet and Iron Ore come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Cadet belongs to the blue-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 26-point LRV gap — 31 for Cadet vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Cadet will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 34.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cadet vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cadet and Iron Ore 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
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. Cadet reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Cadet returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Cadet returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Cadet vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cadet on one side and Iron Ore 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 Cadet comparisons
See how Cadet stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 31, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 60 vs 31, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Cadet reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 31, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 31, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Cadet reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Cadet reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 31), opening up a space where Cadet encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 31), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 7-point LRV gap (31 vs 24) makes Cadet the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 31, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 31, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.