Green Onyx vs Iron Ore
Green Onyx and Iron Ore come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Green Onyx reads as green-greige, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 26-point LRV gap — 31 for Green Onyx vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Green Onyx will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 36.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Green Onyx vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Green Onyx and Iron Ore 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. Green Onyx reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
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. Green Onyx returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Green Onyx returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Green Onyx vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Green Onyx on one side and Iron Ore 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 Green Onyx comparisons
See how Green Onyx stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 31, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.
With LRVs of 31 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 31, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 31, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (31 vs 27) makes Green Onyx the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Green Onyx reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 31, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 31 vs 13, Green Onyx is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 31, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.
Green Onyx reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 31, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 31, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 31, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 31 vs 12, Green Onyx is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 31, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.
Green Onyx reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 25), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 31 vs 12, Green Onyx is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 31, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 31 and 31, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Green Onyx reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Green Onyx reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 24), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 31), opening up a space where Green Onyx encloses it.