Hardware vs Soulful Blue
Hardware and Soulful Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Hardware belongs to the greige-grey family and Soulful Blue to the blue-grey family. The 3-point LRV gap — 23 for Hardware vs 20 for Soulful Blue — means Hardware will open up a space more effectively. Where Hardware leans warm, Soulful Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 22.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Hardware vs Soulful Blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Hardware and Soulful Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Soulful Blue reads more restrained here, while Hardware adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Hardware vs Soulful Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hardware on one side and Soulful Blue 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.