Gentle Gray vs Paper

Gentle GrayBenjamin MoorevsPaperTikkurilaΔE 15.7Distinct difference

Where Gentle Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Paper is a Tikkurila color. Hue-wise, Gentle Gray belongs to the blue-grey family and Paper to the beige-greige family. Paper (LRV 88) reflects noticeably more light than Gentle Gray (LRV 57), a difference of 31 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 15.7, 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.

Gentle Gray vs Paper in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Gentle Gray and Paper 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

In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Paper will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Gentle Gray would.

Gentle GrayBenjamin Moore Gentle Gray hallway color

@primecoatpainting

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 living room day mood

@harmaamaja

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Paper reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gentle Gray.

Gentle GrayBenjamin Moore Gentle Gray bedroom panelling

@briahammelinteriors

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 bedroom

@harmaamaja

Color Details

Gentle Gray
Benjamin Moore · 1626
Hex#C0CACD
LRV57.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1626
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Paper
Tikkurila · F497
Hex#F2F2ED
LRV88.4
BrandTikkurila
NumberF497
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

Gentle Gray vs Paper Simulated Comparison

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

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

White Dove
Gentle Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Gentle Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads slightly lighter

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

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

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

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Gentle Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Gentle Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Gentle Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Gentle Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
Gentle Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Gentle Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Gentle Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Gentle Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Gentle Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Black grey
Gentle Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Gentle Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Gentle Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Windmill Lane
Gentle Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Senses
Gentle Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Gentle Gray reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Gentle Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Gentle Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

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

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Gentle Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Gentle Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Gentle Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Gentle Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Gentle Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
Gentle Gray
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter