Poolhouse vs Upward
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Poolhouse reads as blue-grey, while Upward reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Upward (LRV 57) reflects noticeably more light than Poolhouse (LRV 29), a difference of 29 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 20.5, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Poolhouse vs Upward in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Poolhouse and Upward in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Poolhouse.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Poolhouse.
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. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Poolhouse.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Poolhouse.
Color Details
Poolhouse vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Poolhouse on one side and Upward 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 Poolhouse comparisons
See how Poolhouse stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
