Carolina Plum vs Millstone Gray

Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Carolina Plum (LRV 27) reflects noticeably more light than Millstone Gray (LRV 17), a difference of 10 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Carolina Plum runs purple while Millstone Gray is decidedly green, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 26.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.

Color Details

Carolina Plum
Benjamin Moore · 1384
Hex#9A83A0
LRV27.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1384
UndertonePurple
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Millstone Gray
Benjamin Moore · 1581
Hex#6A716A
LRV17.0
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1581
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Carolina Plum vs Millstone Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Carolina Plum on one side and Millstone Gray 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 Carolina Plum comparisons

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

White Dove
Carolina Plum
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Carolina Plum
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Carolina Plum
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
Carolina Plum
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Carolina Plum
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Carolina Plum
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Carolina Plum
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Carolina Plum
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Tranquil Dawn
Carolina Plum
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Carolina Plum
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Carolina Plum
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
Carolina Plum
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Carolina Plum
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Carolina Plum
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Carolina Plum reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Carolina Plum
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Carolina Plum
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Carolina Plum
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Carolina Plum
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Carolina Plum
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Carolina Plum
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Carolina Plum
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Carolina Plum
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Carolina Plum reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Carolina Plum
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Ocean Abyss
Carolina Plum
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
Carolina Plum
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Carolina Plum
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Carolina Plum
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Carolina Plum
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Carolina Plum
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Carolina Plum
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Carolina Plum reads noticeably lighter