Downing Earth vs Tarragon paint color comparison

Downing Earth vs Tarragon

Downing EarthSherwin-WilliamsvsTarragonSherwin-WilliamsΔE 26.9 — Very different colors

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Downing Earth reads as greige-grey, while Tarragon reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 20 vs 7, Downing Earth will read as the brighter of the two — a 13-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Downing Earth's warm character against Tarragon's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 26.9, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Downing Earth vs Tarragon in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Downing Earth and Tarragon 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Downing Earth returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Downing EarthA organic modern living room painted in Downing Earth

@mybudgetrecipes

TarragonSherwin Williams Tarragon living room paint review

Michelle Monroe Interiors

Dining Room

Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Downing Earth reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Tarragon.

Downing EarthDowning Earth paint in a art deco dining room

@mybudgetrecipes

TarragonSherwin Williams Tarragon dining room paint

@mimasdiydecorandmuchmore

Color Details

Downing Earth
Sherwin-Williams · 2820
LRV20.4
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number2820
Undertone—
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Tarragon
Sherwin-Williams · 9660
LRV7.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9660
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

Downing Earth vs Tarragon Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Earth on one side and Tarragon on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.