Constellation vs Iron Ore
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Constellation belongs to the greige-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. Constellation (LRV 60) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 55 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Constellation 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 53.7, 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 10 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Constellation vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
10 real rooms side by side. Seeing Constellation 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 Constellation 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. Constellation 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. Constellation reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Constellation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Constellation reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Constellation reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Mudroom
Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. Constellation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Patio
Outside, paint color competes with sky, landscaping, and direct sun — all of which shift how both of these read compared to an indoor chip. Constellation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Constellation reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Constellation will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Color Details
Constellation vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Constellation 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 Constellation comparisons
See how Constellation stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Constellation encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (69 vs 60) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
A 8-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Constellation the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 30, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
Constellation reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Constellation reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 4, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
Constellation reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Constellation reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Constellation reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 60, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 21, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 60), opening up a space where Constellation encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Constellation encloses it.
Constellation reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 41, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (68 vs 60) makes Calamine the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 25, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
Constellation reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Constellation reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 31, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 7, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 24, Constellation is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (60 vs 57) makes Constellation the marginally brighter of the two.
A 12-point LRV gap (72 vs 60) makes Just Walnut the marginally brighter of the two.