Old Salem Gray vs Pining for You
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. Old Salem Gray (LRV 32) reflects noticeably more light than Pining for You (LRV 20), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean yellow, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 13.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Old Salem Gray vs Pining for You Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Old Salem Gray on one side and Pining for You 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 Old Salem Gray comparisons
See how Old Salem Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 32, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
Old Salem Gray reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 32, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 32, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
Old Salem Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 32 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 11-point LRV gap (43 vs 32) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 32 vs 4, Old Salem Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
Old Salem Gray reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 32), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 32, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (32 vs 21) makes Old Salem Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 32, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Old Salem Gray reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Old Salem Gray reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (41 vs 32) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Old Salem Gray reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 32), opening up a space where Old Salem Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 31), so neither reads brighter in a room.