Hazel vs Iron Ore
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Hazel belongs to the green family and Iron Ore to the grey family. Hazel (LRV 50) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 44 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Hazel runs cool while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 48.7, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Hazel vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Hazel 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.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Hazel reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
Hazel vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hazel 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 Hazel comparisons
See how Hazel stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 50, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 52 and 50, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Hazel reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 50), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 8-point LRV gap (58 vs 50) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 50 vs 27, Hazel is decisively the brighter choice.
Hazel reads slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (55 vs 50) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
A 6-point LRV gap (50 vs 44) makes Hazel the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 50), opening up a space where Hazel encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 50, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 50, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 50 vs 12, Hazel is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 50, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 50 vs 12, Hazel is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (50 vs 45) makes Hazel the marginally brighter of the two.
Hazel reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Hazel reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Hazel reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 50), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 50), opening up a space where Hazel encloses it.