Soot vs Quartz grey
Soot (Benjamin Moore) and Quartz grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Soot reads as blue-grey, while Quartz grey reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 10-point LRV gap — 17 for Quartz grey vs 6 for Soot — means Quartz grey will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 20.5 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.
Soot vs Quartz grey in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Soot and Quartz 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. Quartz grey 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. Quartz grey reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Soot.
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. Quartz grey returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Soot vs Quartz grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Soot on one side and Quartz 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 Soot comparisons
See how Soot stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
