Icelandic vs Upward
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Icelandic (LRV 67) reflects noticeably more light than Upward (LRV 57), a difference of 10 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 5.4 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Icelandic vs Upward in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Icelandic and Upward 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.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Icelandic reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Upward.
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. Icelandic reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Upward.
Color Details
Icelandic vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Icelandic 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 Icelandic comparisons
See how Icelandic stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 67, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Icelandic reflects far more light (LRV 67 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Icelandic reflects far more light (LRV 67 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Icelandic reads slightly lighter (LRV 67 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 10-point LRV gap (67 vs 58) makes Icelandic the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 67 vs 27, Icelandic is decisively the brighter choice.
Icelandic reflects far more light (LRV 67 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 67 vs 55, Icelandic is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 67 vs 44, Icelandic is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 67), opening up a space where Icelandic encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 67 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 7-point LRV gap (74 vs 67) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 67 vs 12, Icelandic is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 68 vs 67), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 67 vs 12, Icelandic is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 67 vs 45, Icelandic is decisively the brighter choice.
Icelandic reflects far more light (LRV 67 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Icelandic reflects far more light (LRV 67 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Icelandic reflects far more light (LRV 67 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Icelandic reads slightly lighter (LRV 67 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.