URBANE BRONZE vs. IRON ORE, PORPOISE, & 6 TOP GREIGE PAINT COLORS

COMPARING URBANE BRONZE vs. PEPPERCORN, DRAGON’S BREATH, THUNDER GRAY & MORE

In the underworld of dark greige paint colors, there’s only one leader: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. But just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s the BEST greige for your space.

So how do you KNOW?

You compare. Comparison is the best way to find the best shade for your walls, cabinets, front door, or exterior. So while we reviewed the ins and outs of Urbane Bronze in its color review, today, we’re looking at similar colors that are making a run at the title.

But first, let’s touch base with LRV and how it relates to dark paint colors.

Every paint color has an LRV number. This number (on a scale of 0-100) tells you how light or dark a paint color is – 0 is black, 100 is white.

In our USEABLE paint world, we only go down to the mid-2’s, Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. The colors below fall between 6 -13, making them medium-dark to dark paint – but not quite black.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URBANE BRONZE vs. IRON ORE

What’s the BIG difference between Urbane Bronze and Iron Ore? DEPTH. But depth isn’t the only thing; there’s a shift in temperature as well, so let’s check the deets.

• Urbane Bronze has an LRV of 8; Iron Ore has an LRV of 6. This lower LRV means that Iron Ore is DARKER than Urbane Bronze (Iron Ore is more of a soft black).
• While both are warm colors, Urbane Bronze has a more noticeable greige-green undertone/warmth. Iron Ore’s warm green undertone is FAR more passive and less warm.
• Both colors are popular for kitchen islands, front doors, and accent walls (they’re also great on stair railings!).
• On an exterior, Iron Ore acts as a soft black, whereas Urbane Bronze DOESN’T act like a black – it looks like a dark greige

The 8 Best Black Paint Colors

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Iron Ore

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Urbane Bronze

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

Urbane Bronze has my heart (and a place on my kitchen island and stair railings). This isn’t to say I don’t love Iron Ore in the right place (when I need a soft black), but Urbane is usually my fave choice. If you want a bit more depth and less undertone, Iron Ore could be a contender!

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore Paint Color Review

2. URBANE BRONZE vs. PORPOISE

These two shades are pretty popular and pretty similar. This is because they live on the same color strip in the fan deck! However, there is one big difference -LRV.

• Porpoise’s LRV is 13, making it a medium-dark color, whereas Urbane Bronze’s LRV of 8 makes it a DARK color.
• Both colors have similar degrees of warmth and a green undertone.
• Urbane Bronze is generally more popular, whether it’s for a front door, exterior, kitchen island, or interior walls.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Porpoise

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

Again, Urbane Bronze is the winner winner chicken dinner! The depth of Urbane Bronze puts it on the podium, whereas the slightly softer look of Porpoise doesn’t always give me a look I’m going for. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a slightly lighter approach to greige, Porpoise is a shade lighter than Urbane Bronze and could do the trick.

Sherwin Williams Porpoise Paint Color Review

3. URBANE BRONZE vs. BLACK FOX

While I love Black Fox, I don’t refer to it NEARLY as often as I do Urbane Bronze (in my Online Paint Color Consulting). Why? Let’s find out!

• Black Fox has an LRV of 7, so it’s a smidge darker than Urbane Bronze’s LRV of 8. This isn’t a deal-breaker by any means.
• Both colors are warm. However, Black Fox has more brown in it. While brown (and beige) is coming back, right now, greige is a more popular shade.
• Black Fox has a more saturated, richer look compared to Urbane Bronze.
• Both colors are used on exterior trim quite often. Black Fox is rarely used on a kitchen island because of the degree of brown in it.
• Urbane Bronze is a popular cabinet/island paint color for those with granite countertops from the early 2000s and homes with a Tuscan-style palette.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Black Fox

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Urbane Bronze

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

Insert awkward silence HERE…why? Because once again, Urbane Bronze is my fave option. Black Fox usually has a bit too much brown/saturation to suit the types of finishes I’m coordinating with. But this doesn’t mean it won’t work for YOUR home, so make sure you compare the two!

4. URBANE BRONZE vs. THUNDER GRAY

Urbane Bronze and Thunder Gray are kissin’ cousins! However, while Thunder Gray is a wink lighter than Urbane Bronze, there’s one BIG difference that separates the two…

• Thunder Gray’s LRV is 9, a touch lighter than Urbane Bronze’s 8.
• The big difference between these shades is the degree of color (CHROMA). Thunder Gray is a greige-green, just like Urbane Bronze, but Thunder Gray has a more noticeable green hue.
• Urbane Bronze is the more popular color, likely due to its passive undertone.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Thunder Gray

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

Long story short, every single time, Urbane Bronze will be my favorite – that’s why he’s the boss. Thunder Gray is GORGEOUS, but I only use it when I want to see a bit more green coming through.

5. URBANE BRONZE vs. SEALSKIN

I rarely refer to Sealskin in my Online Color Consulting, in fact, I’ve only suggested it one time (in 8000+ consults, whereas I’ve suggested Urbane Bronze hundreds of times). Let’s find out why it may or MAY NOT be the color you’re looking for…

• Sealskin has an LRV of 6, making it more on par with Black Fox (for comparing), as it’s DARKER than Urbane Bronze, although it depends on what you want to use it for.
• Sealskin is WARMER looking than Urbane Bronze with a more saturated brown.
• These colors are similar as they harbor a green undertone.
• Urbane Bronze tends to suit more interior and exterior finishes than Sealskin, making it a more versatile color.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Sealskin

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Urbane Bronze

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

I’ll be honest; I don’t even like Sealskin. This doesn’t mean it can’t be the color for YOU, but I can always find an option I like better for myself or my clients.

6. URBANE BRONZE vs. DRAGON’S BREATH

Urbane Bronze and Dragon’s Breath are VERY similar, and I love comparing the two!

• The LRV of Dragon’s Breath is 9.18, to Urbane Bronze’s 8. This makes Dragon’s Breath a bit LIGHTER than Urbane, although, to eyeball the two, they look pretty darn similar.
• Dragon’s Breath is a bit warmer and richer than Urbane, with a slightly more noticeable green undertone.
• Urbane Bronze tends to be the more popular of the two, whether for cabinets, islands, front doors, walls, or exteriors. Why? They both do the same job; Urbane Bronze is just a bit more muted in its approach.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Dragon’s Breath

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

You guessed it! Urbane Bronze for the win. Dragon’s Breath can be just a touch too muddy for some finishes; however, comparing the two will help you see which is best for you (in other words, you don’t need to humor the crazy lil Ginger ALL the time).

Find Dragon’s Breath quick review HERE

7. URBANE BRONZE vs. PEPPERCORN

If you’re wondering how similar Urbane Bronze and Peppercorn are, you’re REALLY looking at a wild range of colors. Let’s find out the key differences between these two bad boys…

• The LRV of Peppercorn is 10, so it’s a shift LIGHTER than Urbane Bronze’s LRV of 8.
• Urbane Bronze is WARMER than Peppercorn, and that’s because…
• Urbane Bronze lives in the GREIGE world; Peppercorn is based in the GRAY world.
• Peppercorn can have a mild green undertone and a touch of violet that can pop through sometimes. On the other hand, Urbane Bronze is committed to green and nothing else.
• Peppercorn can be an odd choice for a kitchen island due to its unpredictable undertones, whereas Urbane is more consistent. As for front doors, the same applies. In all, while these two shades are both dark neutrals, they’re going in opposite directions.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Peppercorn

KYLIE M’S FAVE COLOR

Comparing these two is like comparing apples to oranges. Sure, they have a similar shape (both being darker colors), but they don’t taste at ALL the same. Peppercorn is an interesting solution when I need a slightly more gray-based color with a vague, almost stormy warmth. Urbane Bronze is the choice when I need some definite warmth and a green undertone.

But I still like Urbane Bronze better.

Sherwin Williams Peppercorn: Paint Color Review

WHAT GREIGE IS DARKER THAN URBANE BRONZE?

It depends on what you consider greige. Sealskin is too brown to be greige. Iron Ore is too close to black and not warm enough. This means that Urbane Bronze is the darkest greige paint color.

If you want a bit more depth, ask your paint store to darken it by 25%. Just note that with some types of paint, they can’t, as the gallon will already be full of tint (being such a dark color already).

WHAT COLOR IS A SHADE LIGHTER THAN URBANE BRONZE?

Sherwin Williams Porpoise is lighter than Urbane Bronze, as is the ever-lovely Anonymous.

Sherwin Williams Anonymous: Paint Color Review

WHAT COLOR IS CLOSE TO URBANE BRONZE?

Benjamin Moore Dragon’s Breath and Sherwin Williams Thunder Gray are the most comparable to Urbane Bronze in undertone and intention (being greiges).

Benjamin Moore Dragon’s Breath exterior

See reviews on both of the above colors in the blog links below!

READ MORE

The 6 Best Dark Greige & Taupe Paint Colors: Sherwin Williams

The Top 8 Dark Greige & Taupe Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore

What’s the Difference Between Greige & Taupe

The Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze FULL Color Review

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