Old Salem Gray vs Lichen
Old Salem Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Lichen (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Old Salem Gray belongs to the beige-greige family and Lichen to the greige-grey family. The 3-point LRV gap — 34 for Lichen vs 32 for Old Salem Gray — means Lichen will open up a space more effectively. Where Old Salem Gray leans yellow, Lichen reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 6.9 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Old Salem Gray vs Lichen in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Old Salem Gray and Lichen are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
Old Salem Gray vs Lichen Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Old Salem Gray on one side and Lichen 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.