Elation vs Retreat
Elation and Retreat come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Elation belongs to the blue-grey family and Retreat to the grey family. The 51-point LRV gap — 72 for Elation vs 21 for Retreat — means Elation will open up a space more effectively. Where Elation leans cool, Retreat reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 37.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 8 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Elation vs Retreat in Real Spaces
8 real rooms side by side. Seeing Elation and Retreat 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
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. Elation reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Retreat.
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. Elation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Elation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Elation will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Retreat would.
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. Elation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Elation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Elation returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Elation vs Retreat Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Elation on one side and Retreat 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 Elation comparisons
See how Elation stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Elation reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
