Classic Silver vs Steely Gaze

Classic SilverBehrvsSteely GazePPGΔE 7.2Noticeable difference

Classic Silver (Behr) and Steely Gaze (PPG) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. The 12-point LRV gap — 60 for Steely Gaze vs 48 for Classic Silver — means Steely Gaze will open up a space more effectively. ΔE 7.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Classic Silver vs Steely Gaze in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Classic Silver and Steely Gaze 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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Classic Silver.

Classic SilverBehr PPU18-11 living room interior

@aguiemedrano

Steely GazeA mid century living room painted in Steely Gaze

@simplywalldecor

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Steely Gaze returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Classic SilverBehr Classic Silver bedroom paint review

@yogicindyd

Steely GazeA scandinavian bedroom painted in Steely Gaze

@simplywalldecor

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Steely Gaze returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Classic SilverBehr Classic Silver kitchen paint

@janaggentry

Steely GazeSteely Gaze — classy kitchen cabinets

@simplywalldecor

Dining Room

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Steely Gaze will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Classic Silver would.

Classic SilverPPU18-11 dining room color

@inspiringchangesbyvan

Steely GazeSteely Gaze paint in a mid century dining room

@simplywalldecor

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. Steely Gaze returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Classic SilverBehr PPU18-11 bathroom color review

@waviestpainter

Steely GazeSteely Gaze — wabi-sabi bathroom

@simplywalldecor

Color Details

Classic Silver
Behr · PPU18-11
Hex#b9b9b4
LRV48.2
BrandBehr
NumberPPU18-11
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Steely Gaze
PPG · PPG0996-2
Hex#cdccca
LRV60.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG0996-2
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

Classic Silver vs Steely Gaze Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Classic Silver on one side and Steely Gaze on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Classic Silver comparisons

See how Classic Silver stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Classic Silver
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Classic Silver
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Classic Silver
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Classic Silver
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Classic Silver
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Classic Silver
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Classic Silver
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Accessible Beige
Classic Silver
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Classic Silver
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

French Gray
Classic Silver
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Naval
Classic Silver
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Classic Silver
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Bancha
Classic Silver
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Hardwick White
Classic Silver
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Pure White
Classic Silver
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Classic Silver
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Classic Silver
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Shoji White
Classic Silver
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
Classic Silver
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Classic Silver
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Skimming Stone
Classic Silver
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone reads noticeably lighter

Dix Blue
Classic Silver
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Calamine
Classic Silver
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reads noticeably lighter

Treron
Classic Silver
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Classic Silver
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
Classic Silver
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Classic Silver
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Classic Silver
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Classic Silver
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Guilford Green
Classic Silver
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green reads slightly lighter