Colorado Gray vs French Gray

Colorado GrayBenjamin MoorevsFrench GrayFarrow & BallΔE 17.1Distinct difference

Colorado Gray (Benjamin Moore) and French Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Colorado Gray belongs to the blue-grey family and French Gray to the beige-greige family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 44 vs 43 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Colorado Gray leans blue, French Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 17.1 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.

Colorado Gray vs French Gray in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Colorado Gray and French Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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. Colorado Gray reads more restrained here, while French Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Colorado GrayBenjamin Moore Colorado Gray Bedroom Accent Wall

@grandslampainting

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bedroom color review

@renovating_a_nightmare

Dining Room

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The temperature contrast between French Gray and Colorado Gray is what sets these apart most in this context.

Colorado GrayBenjamin Moore Colorado Gray Dining Room

@peteybones1

French GrayFarrow and Ball 18 dining room color

@kenliscountry_

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. Colorado Gray reads more restrained here, while French Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Colorado GrayColorado Gray bathroom paint

@lets_roll_painting

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bathroom review

@livingwithchlo_

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. Colorado Gray reads more restrained here, while French Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Colorado GrayExterior

@riverviewcountrycottage

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray house exterior review

@mylittledorsetcottageofdreams

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. Colorado Gray reads more restrained here, while French Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Colorado GrayBenjamin Moore Colorado Gray kitchen cabinets

@mjdesignsvirginiabeach

French GrayFrench Gray kitchen cabinets photo

@myfirstvictorianhome_247

Color Details

Colorado Gray
Benjamin Moore · 2136-50
Hex#9EB5B8
LRV44.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2136-50
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
French Gray
Farrow & Ball · 18
Hex#b5b19a
LRV43.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number18
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Colorado Gray vs French Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colorado Gray on one side and French 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 Colorado Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Colorado Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Colorado Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

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

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

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

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

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

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Colorado Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Colorado Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Colorado Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Colorado Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Colorado Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Colorado Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Colorado Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Colorado Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Colorado Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Colorado Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Colorado Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Colorado Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Colorado Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Colorado Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Colorado Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Colorado Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

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

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Colorado Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Colorado Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Colorado Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Colorado Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Colorado Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Colorado Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Colorado Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Colorado Gray is the lighter choice