Onyx vs Skimming Stone
Onyx (Benjamin Moore) and Skimming Stone (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Onyx belongs to the grey family and Skimming Stone to the beige-greige family. The 63-point LRV gap — 68 for Skimming Stone vs 5 for Onyx — means Skimming Stone will open up a space more effectively. Where Onyx leans red, Skimming Stone reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 64.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Onyx vs Skimming Stone in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Onyx and Skimming Stone 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. Skimming Stone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Onyx.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Skimming Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Skimming Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Skimming Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Onyx vs Skimming Stone Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Onyx on one side and Skimming Stone 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 Onyx comparisons
See how Onyx stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
