Imperial Gray vs Passageway
Where Imperial Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Passageway is a Valspar color. Hue-wise, Imperial Gray belongs to the green-grey family and Passageway to the blue-grey family. Imperial Gray (LRV 47) reflects noticeably more light than Passageway (LRV 14), a difference of 33 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 31.7, 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.
Imperial Gray vs Passageway in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Imperial Gray and Passageway 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. Imperial Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Passageway.
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. Imperial Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Passageway.
Color Details
Imperial Gray vs Passageway Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Imperial Gray on one side and Passageway 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.
