Pavilion Gray vs Light French Gray

Where Pavilion Gray belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, Light French Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color. Pavilion Gray reads as greige-grey, while Light French Gray reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (55 vs 53), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. Pavilion Gray runs warm while Light French Gray is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. At ΔE 2.0, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Pavilion Gray vs Light French Gray in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Pavilion Gray and Light French Gray are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

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 temperature contrast between Pavilion Gray and Light French Gray is what sets these apart most in this context.

Pavilion GrayFarrow and Ball Pavilion Gray 242 living room

@lynnbyrnenyc

Light French GrayLight French Gray SW 0055 by sherwin williams 0055 living room

@mybudgetrecipes

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Pavilion Gray brings more warmth to the space, while Light French Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.

Pavilion GrayFarrow and Ball Pavilion Gray 242 bedroom panelling

@willmundydesign

Light French GrayBy sherwin williams 0055 bedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Light French Gray

@mybudgetrecipes

Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Pavilion Gray brings more warmth to the space, while Light French Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.

Pavilion GrayFarrow and Ball Pavilion Gray 242 bathroom

@okisanchi

Light French GrayGray by sherwin williams 0055 bathroom in Light French Gray by Sherwin Williams

@mybudgetrecipes

Front Door

A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The temperature contrast between Pavilion Gray and Light French Gray is what sets these apart most in this context.

Pavilion GrayFarrow and Ball Pavilion Gray 242 front door paint

@lole_joinery

Light French GrayGray by sherwin williams 0055 front door with Light French Gray SW 0055

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Pavilion Gray brings more warmth to the space, while Light French Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.

Pavilion GrayFarrow and Ball Pavilion Gray 242 kitchen cabinets

@perfectfinishes

Color Details

Pavilion Gray
Farrow & Ball · 242
Hex#c8c3bc
LRV55.0
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number242
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Light French Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 0055
Hex#C2C0BB
LRV52.8
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number0055
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Pavilion Gray vs Light French Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pavilion Gray on one side and Light 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 Pavilion Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Pavilion Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Pavilion Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

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

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

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

Pavilion Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Pavilion Gray reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Pavilion Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Pavilion Gray reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Pavilion Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Pavilion Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Pavilion Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
Pavilion Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Pavilion Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Pavilion Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pavilion Gray reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Pavilion Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Pavilion Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Black grey
Pavilion Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Pavilion Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Pavilion Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Windmill Lane
Pavilion Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Pavilion Gray reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Pavilion Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Pavilion Gray reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Pavilion Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Pavilion Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

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

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Pavilion Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Pavilion Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Pavilion Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Pavilion Gray reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Pavilion Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Pavilion Gray reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Paper
Pavilion Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Pavilion Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Pavilion Gray is the lighter choice