Dovetail vs Elephant Ear
Dovetail and Elephant Ear come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Dovetail belongs to the grey family and Elephant Ear to the greige-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 26 vs 28 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Dovetail leans neutral, Elephant Ear reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.9 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dovetail vs Elephant Ear in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Dovetail and Elephant Ear are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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. Elephant Ear brings more warmth to the space, while Dovetail keeps things cooler and crisper.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Dovetail reads more restrained here, while Elephant Ear adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Dovetail reads more restrained here, while Elephant Ear adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Dovetail reads more restrained here, while Elephant Ear adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Elephant Ear brings more warmth to the space, while Dovetail keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Dovetail reads more restrained here, while Elephant Ear adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Dovetail vs Elephant Ear Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dovetail on one side and Elephant Ear 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.