Frosted Fern vs Green Onyx
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Frosted Fern reads as greige-grey, while Green Onyx reads as green-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Frosted Fern (LRV 38) reflects noticeably more light than Green Onyx (LRV 31), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 6.6 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Frosted Fern vs Green Onyx in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Frosted Fern and Green Onyx 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Frosted Fern gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Frosted Fern vs Green Onyx Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Frosted Fern on one side and Green Onyx 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 Frosted Fern comparisons
See how Frosted Fern stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 38, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
Frosted Fern reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 38, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (38 vs 30) makes Frosted Fern the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 38, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
Frosted Fern reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 38) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 38 vs 4, Frosted Fern is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
Frosted Fern reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 38, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 21, Frosted Fern is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 38, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Frosted Fern reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Frosted Fern reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 38), opening up a space where Frosted Fern encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 41 vs 38), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Frosted Fern reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (38 vs 31) makes Frosted Fern the marginally brighter of the two.