Downing Slate vs Labradorite
Downing Slate and Labradorite come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 21 vs 19 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Downing Slate leans neutral, Labradorite reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 5.7 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Downing Slate vs Labradorite in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Downing Slate and Labradorite 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. Labradorite brings more warmth to the space, while Downing Slate keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Downing Slate reads more restrained here, while Labradorite adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
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. Downing Slate reads more restrained here, while Labradorite adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Downing Slate vs Labradorite Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Slate on one side and Labradorite 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.