Old Salem Gray vs Black grey
Old Salem Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Old Salem Gray belongs to the beige-greige family and Black grey to the blue-grey family. The 25-point LRV gap — 32 for Old Salem Gray vs 6 for Black grey — means Old Salem Gray will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 47.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Old Salem Gray vs Black grey in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Old Salem Gray and Black grey in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Old Salem Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Old Salem Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.
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. Old Salem 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
Old Salem Gray vs Black grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Old Salem Gray on one side and Black grey 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.
