Downing Straw vs Dusty Heather
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Downing Straw reads as beige, while Dusty Heather reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Downing Straw (LRV 43) reflects noticeably more light than Dusty Heather (LRV 28), a difference of 15 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Downing Straw runs warm while Dusty Heather is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 40.7, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Downing Straw vs Dusty Heather in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Downing Straw and Dusty Heather in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Downing Straw reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Dusty Heather.
Color Details
Downing Straw vs Dusty Heather Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Straw on one side and Dusty Heather 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.