Pearl Grey vs Calamine
Pearl Grey is a Dulux color while Calamine comes from Farrow & Ball. Pearl Grey reads as grey, while Calamine reads as pink-red — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 71 vs 68, Pearl Grey will read as the brighter of the two — a 4-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Pearl Grey's neutral character against Calamine's warm — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 8.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Pearl Grey vs Calamine in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Pearl Grey and Calamine 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. Pearl Grey has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The brightness difference is modest but present — Pearl Grey gives the walls a little more lift.
Dining Room
Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Pearl Grey reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Pearl Grey vs Calamine Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pearl Grey on one side and Calamine 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 Pearl Grey comparisons
See how Pearl Grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 12-point LRV gap (83 vs 71) makes White Dove the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 71 and 69, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Pearl Grey reads slightly lighter (LRV 71 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 71 vs 58, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 71 vs 27, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 71 vs 55, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 71 vs 44, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 71), opening up a space where Pearl Grey encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (71 vs 66) makes Pearl Grey the marginally brighter of the two.
A 3-point LRV gap (74 vs 71) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (83 vs 71) makes Snowbound the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 71 vs 12, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (71 vs 68) makes Pearl Grey the marginally brighter of the two.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 71 vs 12, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 71 vs 45, Pearl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Pearl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 71 vs 57), opening up a space where Guilford Green encloses it.
With LRVs of 72 and 71, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.