Smokestack Gray vs Passageway
Where Smokestack Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Passageway is a Valspar color. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Smokestack Gray (LRV 23) reflects noticeably more light than Passageway (LRV 14), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 9.6 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smokestack Gray vs Passageway in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Smokestack Gray and Passageway 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.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Smokestack Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Passageway would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Smokestack Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Passageway.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Smokestack Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Passageway.
Color Details
Smokestack Gray vs Passageway Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smokestack Gray on one side and Passageway 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 Smokestack Gray comparisons
See how Smokestack Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
