Downing Earth vs Soulful Blue
Downing Earth and Soulful Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Downing Earth belongs to the greige-grey family and Soulful Blue to the blue-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 20 vs 20 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Downing Earth leans warm, Soulful Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 25.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Downing Earth vs Soulful Blue in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Downing Earth and Soulful Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Soulful Blue reads more restrained here, while Downing Earth 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. Soulful Blue reads more restrained here, while Downing Earth 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. Soulful Blue reads more restrained here, while Downing Earth adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Downing Earth vs Soulful Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Earth on one side and Soulful Blue 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 Downing Earth comparisons
See how Downing Earth stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 20, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
Downing Earth reflects far more light (LRV 20 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 20, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (30 vs 20) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 20, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 20), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 20, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 20 vs 4, Downing Earth is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
Downing Earth reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 20, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 21 vs 20), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 20, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Downing Earth reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Downing Earth reflects far more light (LRV 20 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 20, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Downing Earth reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 20), opening up a space where Downing Earth encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (31 vs 20) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.