Icicle vs Upward
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Icicle belongs to the blue-grey family and Upward to the blue family. Icicle (LRV 73) reflects noticeably more light than Upward (LRV 57), a difference of 16 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Icicle runs neutral while Upward is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 9.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Icicle vs Upward in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Icicle 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.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Icicle will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Upward would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Icicle reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Upward.
Color Details
Icicle vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Icicle 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 Icicle comparisons
See how Icicle stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
