Smoky Blue vs Tempe Star
Smoky Blue and Tempe Star come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. The 4-point LRV gap — 15 for Smoky Blue vs 11 for Tempe Star — means Smoky Blue will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 6.1 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smoky Blue vs Tempe Star in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Smoky Blue and Tempe Star 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.
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. Smoky Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Smoky Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Smoky Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Smoky Blue vs Tempe Star Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smoky Blue on one side and Tempe Star 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 Smoky Blue comparisons
See how Smoky Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
