Cannon Ball vs French Gray
Cannon Ball (Dulux) and French Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Cannon Ball reads as grey, while French Gray reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 32-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 11 for Cannon Ball — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Cannon Ball leans neutral, French Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 39.2 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.
Cannon Ball vs French Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cannon Ball 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.
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. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Cannon Ball.
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. French Gray 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. French Gray 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. French 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
Cannon Ball vs French Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cannon Ball on one side and French Gray 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 Cannon Ball comparisons
See how Cannon Ball stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 11, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
Cannon Ball reads slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 11, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 11, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 11, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (11 vs 4) makes Cannon Ball the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
With LRVs of 13 and 11, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 11, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (21 vs 11) makes Artichoke the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 11, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 11, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 11 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 11, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 11, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 11), opening up a space where Cannon Ball encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 11, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (11 vs 7) makes Cannon Ball the marginally brighter of the two.