Classic Gray vs Hicks' Blue
Classic Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Hicks' Blue (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Classic Gray reads as beige-greige, while Hicks' Blue reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Classic Gray has an LRV of 74. Where Classic Gray leans yellow, Hicks' Blue reads blue — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 55.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Classic Gray vs Hicks' Blue in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Classic Gray and Hicks' Blue 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
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. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
Classic Gray vs Hicks' Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Classic Gray on one side and Hicks' Blue 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 Classic Gray comparisons
See how Classic Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Classic Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 74 vs 69), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 9-point LRV gap (83 vs 74) makes White Dove the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 6, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 74 vs 52, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 74 vs 58, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 27, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 74 vs 55, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 13, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 44, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reads slightly lighter (LRV 84 vs 74), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (74 vs 66) makes Classic Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 74 vs 74), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 9-point LRV gap (83 vs 74) makes Snowbound the marginally brighter of the two.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 51), opening up a space where Pigeon encloses it.
At LRV 74 vs 12, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 8, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (74 vs 68) makes Classic Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 74 vs 12, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 45, Classic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Classic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.