Downing Slate vs Passageway
Downing Slate (Sherwin-Williams) and Passageway (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. The 7-point LRV gap — 21 for Downing Slate vs 14 for Passageway — means Downing Slate will open up a space more effectively. ΔE 9.5 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 Passageway in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Downing Slate and Passageway 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. Downing Slate reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Downing Slate has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Downing Slate vs Passageway Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Slate on one side and Passageway 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 Slate comparisons
See how Downing Slate stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
