A La Mode vs Smoky Azurite
A La Mode and Smoky Azurite come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, A La Mode belongs to the beige family and Smoky Azurite to the blue family. The 60-point LRV gap — 85 for A La Mode vs 25 for Smoky Azurite — means A La Mode will open up a space more effectively. Where A La Mode leans warm, Smoky Azurite reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 42.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
A La Mode vs Smoky Azurite in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing A La Mode and Smoky Azurite 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
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. A La Mode reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smoky Azurite.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. A La Mode returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
A La Mode vs Smoky Azurite Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see A La Mode on one side and Smoky Azurite 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 A La Mode comparisons
See how A La Mode stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
With LRVs of 85 and 83, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 85 vs 52, A La Mode is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 85 vs 30, A La Mode is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 85 vs 60, A La Mode is decisively the brighter choice.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 85 vs 43, A La Mode is decisively the brighter choice.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 85 vs 84), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
A La Mode reads slightly lighter (LRV 85 vs 74), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 68), opening up a space where Skimming Stone encloses it.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
A La Mode reflects far more light (LRV 85 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 85 vs 31, A La Mode is decisively the brighter choice.