Cracked Pepper vs Darkroom
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (5 vs 5), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. Cracked Pepper runs warm while Darkroom is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 5.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Cracked Pepper vs Darkroom Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cracked Pepper on one side and Darkroom 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 Cracked Pepper comparisons
See how Cracked Pepper stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
