Classic Gray vs Guilford Green

Both are Benjamin Moore colors. Classic Gray reads as beige-greige, while Guilford Green reads as beige-green — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 74 vs 57, Classic Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 16-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a yellow quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 14.1, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Classic Gray vs Guilford Green in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Classic Gray and Guilford Green 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Classic Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray living room makeover

@linseygalliart

Guilford GreenGuilford Green living room color

@brightgirlvintage

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Classic Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Guilford Green would.

Classic GrayOc-23 Bedroom

@thecolorconcierge

Guilford GreenBenjamin Moore HC-116 bedroom paint review

@marigongraphics

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Classic Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Guilford Green would.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray bathroom ensuite

@mhi.painting

Guilford GreenBenjamin Moore Guilford Green bathroom paint review

@fall_line_builders

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Classic Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Guilford Green would.

Classic GrayOc-23 Exterior

@amyfreemaninteriors

Guilford GreenBenjamin Moore HC-116 house exterior color review

@benjaminmoore

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Classic Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Guilford Green would.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray Kitchen Cabinets

@paintdoctorsllc

Guilford GreenBenjamin Moore Guilford Green kitchen cabinets paint review

@amymaisondecor

Color Details

Classic Gray
Benjamin Moore · OC-23
Hex#E3E0D7
LRV73.7
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberOC-23
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore · HC-116
Hex#CBCDAE
LRV57.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberHC-116
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Classic Gray vs Guilford Green Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Classic Gray on one side and Guilford Green 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 Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Classic Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads slightly lighter

Ammonite
Classic Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

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

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Classic Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Classic Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

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

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Naval
Classic Gray
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Classic Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Bancha
Classic Gray
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

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

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

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

Pure White reads slightly lighter

Artichoke
Classic Gray
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Classic Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Nearly identical in tone

Snowbound
Classic Gray
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reads slightly lighter

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

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

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

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Calamine
Classic Gray
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

Treron
Classic Gray
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Classic Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
Classic Gray
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Classic Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Classic Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Classic Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Just Walnut
Classic Gray
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Nearly identical in tone