Steel Symphony 4 vs Parma Gray

Steel Symphony 4DuluxvsParma GrayFarrow & BallΔE 2.1Subtle difference

Steel Symphony 4 (Dulux) and Parma Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. The 4-point LRV gap — 54 for Steel Symphony 4 vs 50 for Parma Gray — means Steel Symphony 4 will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 2.1 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Steel Symphony 4 vs Parma Gray in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Steel Symphony 4 and Parma 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

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. Steel Symphony 4 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Steel Symphony 4Steel Symphony 4 living room paint

@beyondtheblankcanvas

Parma GrayFarrow and Ball Parma Gray 27 living room

@waymill

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. Steel Symphony 4 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Steel Symphony 4Dulux Steel Symphony 4 bathroom makeover

@angela240776

Parma GrayFarrow and Ball Parma Gray 27 blue shower room

@thehouseupstairs

Color Details

Steel Symphony 4
Dulux · 90BG 55/051
Hex#b9c4c9
LRV54.0
BrandDulux
Number90BG 55/051
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Parma Gray
Farrow & Ball · 27
Hex#b2bfc5
LRV50.2
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number27
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Steel Symphony 4 vs Parma Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Symphony 4 on one side and Parma 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 Steel Symphony 4 comparisons

See how Steel Symphony 4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Steel Symphony 4
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Steel Symphony 4
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Steel Symphony 4
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Steel Symphony 4
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Steel Symphony 4
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Steel Symphony 4 reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Steel Symphony 4
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Steel Symphony 4
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Accessible Beige
Steel Symphony 4
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Steel Symphony 4
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

French Gray
Steel Symphony 4
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Steel Symphony 4 reads slightly lighter

Naval
Steel Symphony 4
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Steel Symphony 4
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Bancha
Steel Symphony 4
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Hardwick White
Steel Symphony 4
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Steel Symphony 4 reads slightly lighter

Pure White
Steel Symphony 4
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Steel Symphony 4
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Steel Symphony 4
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Shoji White
Steel Symphony 4
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White reads noticeably lighter

Snowbound
Steel Symphony 4
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Steel Symphony 4
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Skimming Stone
Steel Symphony 4
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone reads noticeably lighter

Dix Blue
Steel Symphony 4
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Steel Symphony 4 reads noticeably lighter

Calamine
Steel Symphony 4
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reads noticeably lighter

Treron
Steel Symphony 4
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Steel Symphony 4
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
Steel Symphony 4
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Steel Symphony 4 reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Steel Symphony 4
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Steel Symphony 4 reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Steel Symphony 4
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Steel Symphony 4
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Steel Symphony 4 is the lighter choice

Guilford Green
Steel Symphony 4
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green reads slightly lighter