Douter vs French Gray

DouterFarrow & BallvsFrench GrayFarrow & BallΔE 28.3Very different colors

Douter and French Gray come from the same Farrow & Ball collection. Hue-wise, Douter belongs to the green-grey family and French Gray to the beige-greige family. The 28-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 15 for Douter — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Douter leans neutral, French Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 28.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Douter vs French Gray in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Douter and French Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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

DouterFarrow and Ball Douter exterior paint

@seansaunderspaintingdecorating

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray house exterior review

@mylittledorsetcottageofdreams

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

DouterFarrow and Ball Douter kitchen cabinets review

@theuglyducklingpaintedkitchens

French GrayFrench Gray kitchen cabinets photo

@myfirstvictorianhome_247

Color Details

Douter
Farrow & Ball · 318
Hex#636f68
LRV15.0
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number318
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
French Gray
Farrow & Ball · 18
Hex#b5b19a
LRV43.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number18
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Douter vs French Gray Simulated Comparison

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

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

White Dove
Douter
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Douter
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Douter
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Douter reads slightly lighter

Purbeck Stone
Douter
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Douter
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Douter
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Douter
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Douter
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Douter
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Douter
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Douter
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Douter reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Douter
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Douter
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Douter reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Douter
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Douter
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Douter reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Douter
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Douter
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Douter
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Douter
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Douter
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Douter reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Douter
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Douter
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Douter
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Douter
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Douter reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Douter
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Douter
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Douter
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Douter
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Douter
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Douter
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Nearly identical in tone