Ionian vs Pewter Green
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Ionian belongs to the blue family and Pewter Green to the green-grey family. Ionian (LRV 20) reflects noticeably more light than Pewter Green (LRV 12), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Ionian runs cool while Pewter Green is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 28.7, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ionian vs Pewter Green in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Ionian and Pewter Green 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. Ionian reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Pewter Green.
Color Details
Ionian vs Pewter Green Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ionian on one side and Pewter Green 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 Ionian comparisons
See how Ionian stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
