Elephant Ear vs Hibernate
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Elephant Ear belongs to the greige-grey family and Hibernate to the grey family. Hibernate (LRV 38) reflects noticeably more light than Elephant Ear (LRV 28), a difference of 10 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Elephant Ear runs warm while Hibernate is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 8.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Elephant Ear vs Hibernate in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Elephant Ear and Hibernate 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Hibernate will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Elephant Ear would.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Hibernate reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Elephant Ear.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Hibernate reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Elephant Ear.
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. Hibernate reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Elephant Ear.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Hibernate will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Elephant Ear would.
Color Details
Elephant Ear vs Hibernate Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Elephant Ear on one side and Hibernate 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.