Colonnade Gray vs Iron Ore
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Colonnade Gray belongs to the greige-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. Colonnade Gray (LRV 53) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 47 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Colonnade Gray runs warm while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 49.8, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Colonnade Gray vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Colonnade Gray 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Colonnade Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
Colonnade Gray vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colonnade Gray 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 Colonnade Gray comparisons
See how Colonnade Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
