First Star vs On The Rocks
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. First Star (LRV 69) reflects noticeably more light than On The Rocks (LRV 62), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 3.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
First Star vs On The Rocks in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. First Star and On The Rocks 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 brightness difference is modest but present — First Star gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
First Star vs On The Rocks Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see First Star on one side and On The Rocks 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 First Star comparisons
See how First Star stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 69), opening up a space where First Star encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 69 vs 69), so neither reads brighter in a room.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 52, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 30, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (69 vs 60) makes First Star the marginally brighter of the two.
First Star reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 43, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 4, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 69, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 21, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reads slightly lighter (LRV 74 vs 69), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 69), opening up a space where First Star encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
With LRVs of 69 and 68, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 69 vs 41, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 69 vs 68), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 69 vs 25, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 31, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 7, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 24, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 57, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.