Cardinal vs Ionian
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Cardinal belongs to the pink-red family and Ionian to the blue family. Ionian (LRV 20) reflects noticeably more light than Cardinal (LRV 8), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Cardinal runs warm while Ionian is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 91.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Cardinal vs Ionian Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cardinal on one side and Ionian 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 Cardinal comparisons
See how Cardinal stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
