Classic Gray vs Ammonite

Classic Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Ammonite (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. The 5-point LRV gap — 74 for Classic Gray vs 69 for Ammonite — means Classic Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Classic Gray leans yellow, Ammonite reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.8 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Classic Gray vs Ammonite in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Classic Gray and Ammonite 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. Classic Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray living room makeover

@linseygalliart

AmmoniteFarrow and Ball 274 living room paint review

@bigredhome

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. Classic Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Classic GrayOc-23 Bedroom

@thecolorconcierge

AmmoniteFarrow and Ball Ammonite bedroom color paint

@the.weston.home

Dining Room

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The brightness difference is modest but present — Classic Gray gives the walls a little more lift.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray dining room color

@ourhickoryhouse

AmmoniteFarrow and Ball 274 dining room interior idea

@casacomberton

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. Classic Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray bathroom ensuite

@mhi.painting

AmmoniteAmmonite bathroom color review

@oursomersetnest

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Classic Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray Kitchen Cabinets

@paintdoctorsllc

AmmoniteFarrow and Ball Ammonite kitchen cabinets interior idea

@maisonlesage

Color Details

Classic Gray
Benjamin Moore · OC-23
Hex#E3E0D7
LRV73.7
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberOC-23
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball · 274
Hex#ddd8cf
LRV68.9
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number274
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight

Classic Gray vs Ammonite Simulated Comparison

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

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

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

Tranquil Dawn
Classic Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

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

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

Black grey
Classic Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Classic Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Classic Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Classic Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Senses
Classic Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Classic Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Classic Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Classic Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Classic Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Classic Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Classic Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Classic Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Classic Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

Nearly identical in tone

RAL 110-1
Classic Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads slightly lighter

Paper
Classic Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Classic Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Classic Gray is the lighter choice