Hampshire Gray vs Lamp Black

Hampshire GrayBenjamin MoorevsLamp BlackLittle GreeneΔE 41.0Very different colors

Hampshire Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Lamp Black (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Hampshire Gray belongs to the greige-grey family and Lamp Black to the grey family. The 23-point LRV gap — 25 for Hampshire Gray vs 3 for Lamp Black — means Hampshire Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Hampshire Gray leans yellow, Lamp Black reads purple — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 41.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Hampshire Gray vs Lamp Black in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Hampshire Gray and Lamp Black 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. Hampshire Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lamp Black.

Hampshire GrayBenjamin Moore HC-101 living room

@norelcocabinets

Lamp BlackLittle Greene Lamp Black 228 living room accent wall

@bytherowantrees_

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. Hampshire Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Hampshire GrayBenjamin Moore Hampshire Gray bedroom

@drawsondesign

Lamp BlackLittle Greene Lamp Black 228 bedroom panelling

@visitnumber7

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Hampshire Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Hampshire GrayBM Hampshire Gray kitchen interior

@jp_jenn_paints

Lamp BlackLittle Greene Lamp Black 228 kitchen island

@lc_painting

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. Hampshire Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Hampshire GrayBenjamin Moore Hampshire Gray kitchen cabinets

@wadelabois

Lamp BlackLittle Greene Lamp Black 228 kitchen cabinets

@gracofurnitureltd

Color Details

Hampshire Gray
Benjamin Moore · HC-101
Hex#908972
LRV25.4
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberHC-101
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Lamp Black
Little Greene · 228
Hex#2e2d2e
LRV2.7
BrandLittle Greene
Number228
UndertonePurple
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Hampshire Gray vs Lamp Black Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hampshire Gray on one side and Lamp Black 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 Hampshire Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Hampshire Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Hampshire Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

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

Hampshire Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

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

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Hampshire Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Hampshire Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Hampshire Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Tranquil Dawn
Hampshire Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Hampshire Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Hampshire Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Hampshire Gray reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
Hampshire Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Hampshire Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Hampshire Gray reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Hampshire Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nearly identical in tone

Black grey
Hampshire Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Hampshire Gray reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Hampshire Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Hampshire Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Hampshire Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Hampshire Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Hampshire Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

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

Hampshire Gray reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Hampshire Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Ocean Abyss
Hampshire Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Hampshire Gray reads noticeably lighter

Obsidian Green
Hampshire Gray
Obsidian Green
Little Greene
Obsidian Green
LRV 1

Hampshire Gray reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
Hampshire Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Hampshire Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Hampshire Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Hampshire Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Hampshire Gray reads slightly lighter