Gray Lake vs Steam
Gray Lake (Benjamin Moore) and Steam (Tikkurila) come from different manufacturers. Gray Lake reads as green-grey, while Steam reads as greige-white — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 79 vs 79 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 1.9 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Gray Lake vs Steam in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Gray Lake and Steam 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.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Gray Lake vs Steam Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gray Lake on one side and Steam 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 Gray Lake comparisons
See how Gray Lake stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
