Imperial Gray vs Skimming Stone
Where Imperial Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Skimming Stone is a Farrow & Ball color. Imperial Gray reads as green-grey, while Skimming Stone reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Skimming Stone (LRV 68) reflects noticeably more light than Imperial Gray (LRV 47), a difference of 21 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Imperial Gray runs green while Skimming Stone is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 13.7, 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 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Imperial Gray vs Skimming Stone in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Imperial Gray and Skimming Stone 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. Skimming Stone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Imperial Gray.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Skimming Stone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Imperial Gray.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Skimming Stone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Imperial Gray.
Color Details
Imperial Gray vs Skimming Stone Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Imperial Gray on one side and Skimming Stone 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 Imperial Gray comparisons
See how Imperial Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 47, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (52 vs 47) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 47 vs 30, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 47, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (47 vs 43) makes Imperial Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 47 vs 4, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Imperial Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 47, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 21, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (51 vs 47) makes Pigeon the marginally brighter of the two.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (47 vs 41) makes Imperial Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 47 and 45, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 47 vs 31, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 7, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.