North Star vs Passageway
North Star (Sherwin-Williams) and Passageway (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 48-point LRV gap — 62 for North Star vs 14 for Passageway — means North Star will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 39.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
North Star vs Passageway in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing North Star and Passageway 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. North Star reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Passageway.
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. North Star returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. North Star returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
North Star vs Passageway Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see North Star on one side and Passageway 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 North Star comparisons
See how North Star stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
