Distant Gray vs Gray Shower
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Hue-wise, Distant Gray belongs to the green-grey family and Gray Shower to the blue-grey family. Distant Gray (LRV 88) reflects noticeably more light than Gray Shower (LRV 18), a difference of 70 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Distant Gray runs green while Gray Shower is decidedly blue, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 48.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Distant Gray vs Gray Shower in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Distant Gray and Gray Shower in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Distant Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gray Shower.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Distant Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gray Shower.
Color Details
Distant Gray vs Gray Shower Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Distant Gray on one side and Gray Shower 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.