Retreat vs Willowleaf
Retreat and Willowleaf come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 3-point LRV gap — 24 for Willowleaf vs 21 for Retreat — means Willowleaf will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 3.6 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Retreat vs Willowleaf in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Retreat and Willowleaf are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
Retreat vs Willowleaf Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Retreat on one side and Willowleaf 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 Retreat comparisons
See how Retreat stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 21, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 21, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 21, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 21, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
Retreat reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
Retreat reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 21), opening up a space where Retreat encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (31 vs 21) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 21 vs 7, Retreat is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (24 vs 21) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 21, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.