Cook's Blue vs Black grey
Cook's Blue (Farrow & Ball) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Cook's Blue reads as blue, while Black grey reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 19-point LRV gap — 25 for Cook's Blue vs 6 for Black grey — means Cook's Blue will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 43.4 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.
Cook's Blue vs Black grey in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cook's Blue and Black grey 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. Cook's Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Cook's Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Cook's Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.
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. Cook's Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Cook's Blue vs Black grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cook's Blue on one side and Black grey 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 Cook's Blue comparisons
See how Cook's Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
