Mercurial vs Opalescent
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Mercurial reads as greige-grey, while Opalescent reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Opalescent (LRV 75) reflects noticeably more light than Mercurial (LRV 61), a difference of 14 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Mercurial runs warm while Opalescent is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 8.6 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Mercurial vs Opalescent Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mercurial on one side and Opalescent 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 Mercurial comparisons
See how Mercurial stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
With LRVs of 61 and 60, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
