New York State of Mind vs French Gray
New York State of Mind (Benjamin Moore) and French Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. New York State of Mind reads as blue, while French Gray reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 33-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 11 for New York State of Mind — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where New York State of Mind leans blue, French Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 50.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
New York State of Mind vs French Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing New York State of Mind and French Gray 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. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than New York State of Mind.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
New York State of Mind vs French Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see New York State of Mind on one side and French Gray 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 New York State of Mind comparisons
See how New York State of Mind stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
