De Nimes vs Black grey
De Nimes (Farrow & Ball) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 12-point LRV gap — 19 for De Nimes vs 6 for Black grey — means De Nimes will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 30.7 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.
De Nimes vs Black grey in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing De Nimes 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. De Nimes 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. De Nimes 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. De Nimes 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. De Nimes returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
De Nimes vs Black grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see De Nimes 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 De Nimes comparisons
See how De Nimes stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
