Griffin vs Upward
Griffin and Upward come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Griffin reads as greige-grey, while Upward reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 44-point LRV gap — 57 for Upward vs 13 for Griffin — means Upward will open up a space more effectively. Where Griffin leans warm, Upward reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 39.6 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.
Griffin vs Upward in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Griffin and Upward 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. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Griffin.
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. Upward 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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Griffin vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Griffin on one side and Upward 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 Griffin comparisons
See how Griffin stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
