French Gray vs Pastel blue
Where French Gray belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, Pastel blue is a RAL Classic color. Hue-wise, French Gray belongs to the beige-greige family and Pastel blue to the blue family. French Gray (LRV 43) reflects noticeably more light than Pastel blue (LRV 29), a difference of 15 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 34.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
French Gray vs Pastel blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing French Gray and Pastel blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that French Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pastel blue would.
Color Details
French Gray vs Pastel blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see French Gray on one side and Pastel blue 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.
