Hay vs Black grey
Where Hay belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, Black grey is a RAL Classic color. Hay reads as beige, while Black grey reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Hay (LRV 58) reflects noticeably more light than Black grey (LRV 6), a difference of 52 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 67.6, 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.
Hay vs Black grey in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Hay 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Hay will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black grey would.
Color Details
Hay vs Black grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hay 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 Hay comparisons
See how Hay stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
