Oak Barrel vs Soulful Blue

Oak Barrel and Soulful Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Oak Barrel belongs to the beige family and Soulful Blue to the blue-grey family. The 18-point LRV gap — 39 for Oak Barrel vs 20 for Soulful Blue — means Oak Barrel will open up a space more effectively. Where Oak Barrel leans warm, Soulful Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 34.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.