Inkwell vs Outerspace
Inkwell and Outerspace come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 8-point LRV gap — 12 for Outerspace vs 4 for Inkwell — means Outerspace will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 18.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Inkwell vs Outerspace in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Inkwell and Outerspace 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. Outerspace reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Outerspace has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Outerspace has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Outerspace has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Inkwell vs Outerspace Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Inkwell on one side and Outerspace 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.