Celtic Forest 3 vs French Gray paint color comparison

Celtic Forest 3 vs French Gray

Celtic Forest 3DuluxvsFrench GrayFarrow & BallΔE 5.2Noticeable difference

Celtic Forest 3 is a Dulux color while French Gray comes from Farrow & Ball. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. At LRV 52 vs 43, Celtic Forest 3 will read as the brighter of the two — a 9-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a warm quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 5.2, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Celtic Forest 3 vs French Gray in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Celtic Forest 3 and French Gray 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Celtic Forest 3 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Celtic Forest 3Dulux Fresh Artichoke living room color review

@dbpaintingdecorating_npt

French GrayFarrow and Ball 18 living room paint

@over_at_overview

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Celtic Forest 3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than French Gray would.

Celtic Forest 3Dulux Fresh Artichoke bedroom inspiration

@myscottishhomebytheclyde

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bedroom color review

@renovating_a_nightmare

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Celtic Forest 3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than French Gray would.

Celtic Forest 3Dulux Fresh Artichoke bathroom paint

@thedecoratingduo

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bathroom review

@livingwithchlo_

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Celtic Forest 3 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Celtic Forest 3Dulux Fresh Artichoke front door paint

@booredecorating

French GrayFrench Gray front door inspiration

@the_rutland_lady

Color Details

Celtic Forest 3
Dulux · 90YY 52/138
Hex#C1BEA2
LRV52.0
BrandDulux
Number90YY 52/138
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
French Gray
Farrow & Ball · 18
Hex#b5b19a
LRV43.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number18
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Celtic Forest 3 vs French Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Celtic Forest 3 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 Celtic Forest 3 comparisons

See how Celtic Forest 3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Celtic Forest 3
White Dove vs Celtic Forest 3
White Dove
Celtic Forest 3
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 83 vs 52, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Ammonite
Celtic Forest 3 vs Ammonite
Celtic Forest 3
Ammonite
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 52), opening up a space where Celtic Forest 3 encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Iron Ore
Celtic Forest 3 vs Iron Ore
Celtic Forest 3
Iron Ore
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 52 vs 6, Celtic Forest 3 is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Purbeck Stone
Celtic Forest 3 vs Purbeck Stone
Celtic Forest 3
Purbeck Stone
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

With LRVs of 52 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Celtic Forest 3
Evergreen Fog
Celtic Forest 3 vs Evergreen Fog
Celtic Forest 3
Evergreen Fog
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Mizzle
Celtic Forest 3 vs Mizzle
Celtic Forest 3
Mizzle
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 52 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Celtic Forest 3
Agreeable Gray
Celtic Forest 3 vs Agreeable Gray
Celtic Forest 3
Agreeable Gray
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Celtic Forest 3
Accessible Beige
Celtic Forest 3 vs Accessible Beige
Celtic Forest 3
Accessible Beige
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

A 6-point LRV gap (58 vs 52) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.

Celtic Forest 3
Denim Drift
Celtic Forest 3 vs Denim Drift
Celtic Forest 3
Denim Drift
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 52 vs 27, Celtic Forest 3 is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Naval
Celtic Forest 3 vs Naval
Celtic Forest 3
Naval
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Tranquil Dawn
Celtic Forest 3 vs Tranquil Dawn
Celtic Forest 3
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

A 3-point LRV gap (55 vs 52) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.

Celtic Forest 3
Bancha
Celtic Forest 3 vs Bancha
Celtic Forest 3
Bancha
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

At LRV 52 vs 13, Celtic Forest 3 is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Hardwick White
Celtic Forest 3 vs Hardwick White
Celtic Forest 3
Hardwick White
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

A 8-point LRV gap (52 vs 44) makes Celtic Forest 3 the marginally brighter of the two.

Celtic Forest 3
Pure White
Celtic Forest 3 vs Pure White
Celtic Forest 3
Pure White
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 52), opening up a space where Celtic Forest 3 encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Artichoke
Celtic Forest 3 vs Artichoke
Celtic Forest 3
Artichoke
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.

Balboa Mist
Celtic Forest 3
Balboa Mist vs Celtic Forest 3
Balboa Mist
Celtic Forest 3
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 66 vs 52, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Shoji White
Celtic Forest 3 vs Shoji White
Celtic Forest 3
Shoji White
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 74 vs 52, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Snowbound
Celtic Forest 3 vs Snowbound
Celtic Forest 3
Snowbound
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

At LRV 83 vs 52, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Pewter Green
Celtic Forest 3 vs Pewter Green
Celtic Forest 3
Pewter Green
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 52 vs 12, Celtic Forest 3 is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Skimming Stone
Celtic Forest 3 vs Skimming Stone
Celtic Forest 3
Skimming Stone
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 68 vs 52, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Celtic Forest 3
Dix Blue
Celtic Forest 3 vs Dix Blue
Celtic Forest 3
Dix Blue
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Celtic Forest 3 reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 41), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Celtic Forest 3
Calamine
Celtic Forest 3 vs Calamine
Celtic Forest 3
Calamine
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 52), opening up a space where Celtic Forest 3 encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Treron
Celtic Forest 3 vs Treron
Celtic Forest 3
Treron
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.

Vintage Vogue
Celtic Forest 3
Vintage Vogue vs Celtic Forest 3
Vintage Vogue
Celtic Forest 3
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

At LRV 52 vs 12, Celtic Forest 3 is decisively the brighter choice.

Saybrook Sage
Celtic Forest 3
Saybrook Sage vs Celtic Forest 3
Saybrook Sage
Celtic Forest 3
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

A 7-point LRV gap (52 vs 45) makes Celtic Forest 3 the marginally brighter of the two.

Celtic Forest 3
Pale Green
Celtic Forest 3 vs Pale Green
Celtic Forest 3
Pale Green
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Pine Needle
Celtic Forest 3 vs Pine Needle
Celtic Forest 3
Pine Needle
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.

Celtic Forest 3
Cement grey
Celtic Forest 3 vs Cement grey
Celtic Forest 3
Cement grey
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Celtic Forest 3 reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.

Guilford Green
Celtic Forest 3
Guilford Green vs Celtic Forest 3
Guilford Green
Celtic Forest 3
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

Guilford Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Celtic Forest 3
Just Walnut
Celtic Forest 3 vs Just Walnut
Celtic Forest 3
Just Walnut
Dulux
Celtic Forest 3
90YY 52/138 · LRV 52

Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 52), opening up a space where Celtic Forest 3 encloses it.