Outerspace vs Retreat
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Outerspace reads as blue-grey, while Retreat reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Retreat (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than Outerspace (LRV 12), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Outerspace runs cool while Retreat is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 15.8, 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 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Outerspace vs Retreat in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Outerspace and Retreat 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Retreat will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Outerspace would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Outerspace.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Outerspace.
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. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Outerspace.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Outerspace.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Outerspace.
Color Details
Outerspace vs Retreat Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Outerspace on one side and Retreat 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.