Wenge vs French Gray

WengeBenjamin MoorevsFrench GrayFarrow & BallΔE 53.3Very different colors

Wenge (Benjamin Moore) and French Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Wenge belongs to the pink family and French Gray to the beige-greige family. The 38-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 5 for Wenge — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Wenge leans red, French Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 53.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Wenge vs French Gray in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. Seeing Wenge and French Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

WengeBenjamin Moore Wenge bathroom color paint

@surfacesense.ph

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bathroom review

@livingwithchlo_

Color Details

Wenge
Benjamin Moore · AF-180
Hex#3C2D2B
LRV4.8
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberAF-180
UndertoneRed
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessDark
French Gray
Farrow & Ball · 18
Hex#b5b19a
LRV43.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number18
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Wenge vs French Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Wenge on one side and French Gray on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Wenge comparisons

See how Wenge stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Wenge
White Dove
Wenge
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Ammonite
Wenge
Ammonite
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

At LRV 69 vs 5, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Iron Ore
Wenge
Iron Ore
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

With LRVs of 6 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Wenge
Purbeck Stone
Wenge
Purbeck Stone
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

At LRV 52 vs 5, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Evergreen Fog
Wenge
Evergreen Fog
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

At LRV 30 vs 5, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Mizzle
Wenge
Mizzle
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Agreeable Gray
Wenge
Agreeable Gray
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

At LRV 60 vs 5, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Accessible Beige
Wenge
Accessible Beige
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Denim Drift
Wenge
Denim Drift
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Naval
Wenge
Naval
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 5 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Wenge
Tranquil Dawn
Wenge
Tranquil Dawn
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Bancha
Wenge
Bancha
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 5), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Wenge
Hardwick White
Wenge
Hardwick White
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Pure White
Wenge
Pure White
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

At LRV 84 vs 5, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Artichoke
Wenge
Artichoke
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

At LRV 21 vs 5, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.

Balboa Mist
Wenge
Balboa Mist
Wenge
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Shoji White
Wenge
Shoji White
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Snowbound
Wenge
Snowbound
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Pewter Green
Wenge
Pewter Green
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 5), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Wenge
Skimming Stone
Wenge
Skimming Stone
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Dix Blue
Wenge
Dix Blue
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

At LRV 41 vs 5, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Calamine
Wenge
Calamine
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

At LRV 68 vs 5, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Treron
Wenge
Treron
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

At LRV 25 vs 5, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.

Vintage Vogue
Wenge
Vintage Vogue
Wenge
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 5), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Saybrook Sage
Wenge
Saybrook Sage
Wenge
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 5), opening up a space where Wenge encloses it.

Wenge
Pale Green
Wenge
Pale Green
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

At LRV 31 vs 5, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Pine Needle
Wenge
Pine Needle
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Wenge
Cement grey
Wenge
Cement grey
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

At LRV 24 vs 5, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.

Guilford Green
Wenge
Guilford Green
Wenge
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

At LRV 57 vs 5, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.

Wenge
Just Walnut
Wenge
Just Walnut
Benjamin Moore
Wenge
AF-180 · LRV 5

At LRV 72 vs 5, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.