Illusive Green vs In the Navy paint color comparison

Illusive Green vs In the Navy

Illusive Green and In the Navy come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Illusive Green reads as green-grey, while In the Navy reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 26-point LRV gap — 29 for Illusive Green vs 4 for In the Navy — means Illusive Green will open up a space more effectively. Where Illusive Green leans neutral, In the Navy reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 41.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Illusive Green vs In the Navy in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Illusive Green and In the Navy 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. Illusive Green reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than In the Navy.

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Living Room

@mybudgetrecipes

In the NavyLiving Room

@greenriverpainting

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Illusive Green returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

In the NavySw In The Navy Bathroom Vanity

@jessarnoldtampa

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. Illusive Green returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Illusive GreenIllusive Green House

@mybudgetrecipes

Front Door

On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Illusive Green reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than In the Navy.

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Front Door

@mybudgetrecipes

In the NavyIn The Navy Door

@youbetchayall

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. Illusive Green returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Illusive GreenSW Illusive Green kitchen cabinets interior idea

@customcarebycaleb

In the NavySW 9178 kitchen cabinets color review

@emi_master_finishers

Color Details

Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams · 9164
LRV29.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9164
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
In the Navy
Sherwin-Williams · 9178
LRV3.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9178
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

Illusive Green vs In the Navy Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Illusive Green on one side and In the Navy on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Illusive Green comparisons

See how Illusive Green stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Ammonite
Ammonite
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Ammonite vs Illusive Green
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

At LRV 69 vs 29, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

White Dove
White Dove
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
White Dove vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Iron Ore
Iron Ore
Illusive Green vs Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Illusive Green reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Purbeck Stone
Purbeck Stone
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Purbeck Stone vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

At LRV 52 vs 29, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Evergreen Fog
Evergreen Fog
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Evergreen Fog vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Mizzle
Mizzle
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Mizzle vs Illusive Green
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Agreeable Gray vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

At LRV 60 vs 29, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Accessible Beige
Accessible Beige
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Accessible Beige vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Denim Drift
Denim Drift
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Denim Drift vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

With LRVs of 29 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

French Gray
French Gray
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
French Gray vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

At LRV 43 vs 29, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Naval
Naval
Illusive Green vs Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 29 vs 4, Illusive Green is decisively the brighter choice.

Tranquil Dawn
Tranquil Dawn
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Tranquil Dawn vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Bancha
Bancha
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Bancha vs Illusive Green
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Illusive Green reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Hardwick White
Hardwick White
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Hardwick White vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Pure White
Pure White
Illusive Green vs Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

At LRV 84 vs 29, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Artichoke
Artichoke
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Artichoke vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

A 8-point LRV gap (29 vs 21) makes Illusive Green the marginally brighter of the two.

Balboa Mist
Balboa Mist
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Balboa Mist vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Shoji White
Shoji White
Illusive Green vs Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Snowbound
Snowbound
Illusive Green vs Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Pigeon
Pigeon
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Pigeon vs Illusive Green
Farrow & Ball
Pigeon
LRV 51
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

At LRV 51 vs 29, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.

Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Pewter Green
Pewter Green
Illusive Green vs Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Illusive Green reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Duck Green
Duck Green
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Duck Green vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Illusive Green reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.

Skimming Stone
Skimming Stone
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Skimming Stone vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Dix Blue
Dix Blue
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Dix Blue vs Illusive Green
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

A 12-point LRV gap (41 vs 29) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.

Hicks' Blue
Illusive Green
Hicks' Blue
Illusive Green

Hicks' Blue vs Illusive Green

Slaked Lime Deep
Illusive Green
Slaked Lime Deep
Illusive Green

Slaked Lime Deep vs Illusive Green

Vintage Vogue
Vintage Vogue
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Vintage Vogue vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Illusive Green reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Livid
Illusive Green
Livid
Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Livid vs Illusive Green

Saybrook Sage
Saybrook Sage
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Saybrook Sage vs Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 29), opening up a space where Illusive Green encloses it.

Pale Green
Pale Green
Illusive Green
Illusive Green
Pale Green vs Illusive Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31
Sherwin-Williams
Illusive Green
9164 · LRV 29

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.