Cromarty vs Pigeon paint color comparison

Cromarty vs Pigeon

CromartyFarrow & BallvsPigeonFarrow & BallΔE 16.9Distinct difference

Both are Farrow & Ball colors. Cromarty reads as greige-grey, while Pigeon reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 60 vs 51, Cromarty will read as the brighter of the two — a 9-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Cromarty's warm character against Pigeon's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 16.9, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Cromarty vs Pigeon in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cromarty and Pigeon 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

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. Cromarty returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

CromartyCromarty living room fireplace paint review

@reidsrenovate

PigeonFarrow and Ball Pigeon living room inspiration

@1930s_doer_upper

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 Cromarty will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pigeon would.

CromartyCromarty bedroom review

@hugos.abode

PigeonPigeon bedroom

@thomassandersonltd

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 Cromarty will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pigeon would.

CromartyCromarty bathroom color review

@morehandles

PigeonFarrow and Ball Pigeon bathroom paint review

@theharrogate_storys

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. Cromarty returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

CromartyFarrow and Ball Cromarty front door picture

@morehandles

PigeonPigeon front door

@newbuildinspire

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Cromarty will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pigeon would.

CromartyCromarty kitchen cabinets paint review

@petertressel

PigeonFarrow and Ball Pigeon kitchen cabinets review

@portree.kitchens

Color Details

Cromarty
Farrow & Ball · 285
LRV60.0
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number285
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
Pigeon
Farrow & Ball · 25
LRV50.6
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number25
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Cromarty vs Pigeon Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cromarty on one side and Pigeon 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 Cromarty comparisons

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

Ammonite
Ammonite
Cromarty
Cromarty
Ammonite vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

A 9-point LRV gap (69 vs 60) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.

White Dove
White Dove
Cromarty
Cromarty
White Dove vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Cromarty encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Iron Ore
Iron Ore
Cromarty vs Iron Ore
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Purbeck Stone
Purbeck Stone
Cromarty vs Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

A 8-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Cromarty the marginally brighter of the two.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Evergreen Fog
Evergreen Fog
Cromarty vs Evergreen Fog
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

At LRV 60 vs 30, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Mizzle
Mizzle
Cromarty vs Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

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

Cromarty
Cromarty
Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray
Cromarty vs Agreeable Gray
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Accessible Beige
Accessible Beige
Cromarty vs Accessible Beige
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Denim Drift
Denim Drift
Cromarty
Cromarty
Denim Drift vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
French Gray
French Gray
Cromarty vs French Gray
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

At LRV 60 vs 43, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Naval
Naval
Cromarty vs Naval
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 60 vs 4, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.

Tranquil Dawn
Tranquil Dawn
Cromarty
Cromarty
Tranquil Dawn vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Bancha
Bancha
Cromarty
Cromarty
Bancha vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Hardwick White
Hardwick White
Cromarty vs Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Pure White
Pure White
Cromarty vs Pure White
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

At LRV 84 vs 60, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Artichoke
Artichoke
Cromarty vs Artichoke
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

At LRV 60 vs 21, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.

Balboa Mist
Balboa Mist
Cromarty
Cromarty
Balboa Mist vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Shoji White
Shoji White
Cromarty vs Shoji White
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 60), opening up a space where Cromarty encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Snowbound
Snowbound
Cromarty vs Snowbound
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Cromarty encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Pewter Green
Pewter Green
Cromarty vs Pewter Green
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Duck Green
Duck Green
Cromarty vs Duck Green
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Skimming Stone
Skimming Stone
Cromarty vs Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Dix Blue
Dix Blue
Cromarty vs Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

At LRV 60 vs 41, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.

Cromarty
Hicks' Blue
Cromarty
Hicks' Blue
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty vs Hicks' Blue

Cromarty
Slaked Lime Deep
Cromarty
Slaked Lime Deep

Cromarty vs Slaked Lime Deep

Vintage Vogue
Vintage Vogue
Cromarty
Cromarty
Vintage Vogue vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Cromarty
Livid
Cromarty
Livid
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty vs Livid

Saybrook Sage
Saybrook Sage
Cromarty
Cromarty
Saybrook Sage vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

Cromarty reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Pale Green
Pale Green
Cromarty vs Pale Green
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

At LRV 60 vs 31, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.

Pine Needle
Pine Needle
Cromarty
Cromarty
Pine Needle vs Cromarty
Farrow & Ball
Cromarty
285 · LRV 60

At LRV 60 vs 7, Cromarty is decisively the brighter choice.