French Gray vs Hague Blue

French GrayFarrow & BallvsHague BlueFarrow & BallΔE 44.5Very different colors

French Gray and Hague Blue come from the same Farrow & Ball collection. French Gray reads as beige-greige, while Hague Blue reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 36-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 7 for Hague Blue — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where French Gray leans warm, Hague Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 44.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

French Gray vs Hague Blue in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. Seeing French Gray and Hague Blue 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. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Hague Blue.

French GrayFarrow and Ball 18 living room paint

@over_at_overview

Hague BlueFarrow and Ball Hague Blue stylish living room

@cavershamdecorators

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bedroom color review

@renovating_a_nightmare

Hague BlueFarrow and Ball Hague Blue stylish bedroom

@atelier.sandrine.guidon

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

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray bathroom review

@livingwithchlo_

Hague BlueFarrow and Ball Hague Blue bathroom color review

@project_lu

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.

French GrayFarrow and Ball French Gray house exterior review

@mylittledorsetcottageofdreams

Hague BlueFarrow and Ball Hague Blue exterior paint

@brambleandwild

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. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Hague Blue.

French GrayFrench Gray front door inspiration

@the_rutland_lady

Hague BlueHague Blue front door

@aaronhickton

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.

French GrayFrench Gray kitchen cabinets photo

@myfirstvictorianhome_247

Hague BlueFarrow and Ball Hague Blue kitchen cabinets paint review

@woldsfurniturecompany

Color Details

French Gray
Farrow & Ball · 18
Hex#b5b19a
LRV43.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number18
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Hague Blue
Farrow & Ball · 30
Hex#3d4e57
LRV7.0
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number30
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

French Gray vs Hague Blue Simulated Comparison

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

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

White Dove
French Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
French Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
French Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

French Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
French Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
French Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
French Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
French Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
French Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
French Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
French Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
French Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

French Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
French Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
French Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

French Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
French Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
French Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

French Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
French Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
French Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
French Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Senses
French Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
French Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

French Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
French Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
French Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

French Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
French Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
French Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

French Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
French Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
French Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
French Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
French Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
French Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
French Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

French Gray is the lighter choice