Faded Flaxflower vs Smoky Azurite

Faded Flaxflower and Smoky Azurite come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 19-point LRV gap — 44 for Faded Flaxflower vs 25 for Smoky Azurite — means Faded Flaxflower will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 15.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Faded Flaxflower vs Smoky Azurite in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Faded Flaxflower and Smoky Azurite in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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. Faded Flaxflower returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Faded FlaxflowerSherwin Williams Faded Flaxflower Bathroom Vanity

@diy_afterdark

Smoky AzuriteSW Smoky Azurite bathroom vanity

@lloydsremodeling

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. Faded Flaxflower returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Faded FlaxflowerSw 9146 Kitchen Cabinets

@ourlittlemagnoliahome

Smoky AzuriteSW Smoky Azurite kitchen cabinets

@lloydsremodeling

Color Details

Faded Flaxflower
Sherwin-Williams · 9146
Hex#9EB4C0
LRV43.6
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9146
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Smoky Azurite
Sherwin-Williams · 9148
Hex#708D9E
LRV25.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9148
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Faded Flaxflower vs Smoky Azurite Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Faded Flaxflower on one side and Smoky Azurite on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Faded Flaxflower comparisons

See how Faded Flaxflower stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Faded Flaxflower
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Faded Flaxflower
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Faded Flaxflower
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Faded Flaxflower
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Faded Flaxflower
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Faded Flaxflower
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Faded Flaxflower
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Faded Flaxflower
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Faded Flaxflower
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Faded Flaxflower
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Faded Flaxflower
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Faded Flaxflower
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Faded Flaxflower
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Faded Flaxflower
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Faded Flaxflower
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Piazza
Faded Flaxflower
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Faded Flaxflower
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Faded Flaxflower
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Faded Flaxflower
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Faded Flaxflower
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Faded Flaxflower
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Faded Flaxflower
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Faded Flaxflower
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Faded Flaxflower
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Faded Flaxflower
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Faded Flaxflower
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Faded Flaxflower reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Faded Flaxflower
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Faded Flaxflower
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Faded Flaxflower
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Faded Flaxflower
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Faded Flaxflower is the lighter choice