French Gray vs Steely Gaze
French Gray (Farrow & Ball) and Steely Gaze (PPG) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, French Gray belongs to the beige-greige family and Steely Gaze to the grey family. The 17-point LRV gap — 60 for Steely Gaze vs 43 for French Gray — means Steely Gaze will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 15.3 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 Steely Gaze in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing French Gray and Steely Gaze 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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than French Gray.
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. Steely Gaze returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Steely Gaze will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than French Gray would.
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. Steely Gaze returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Steely Gaze 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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than French Gray.
Color Details
French Gray vs Steely Gaze Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see French Gray on one side and Steely Gaze 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 French Gray comparisons
See how French Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
