String vs Black grey
Where String belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, Black grey is a RAL Classic color. Hue-wise, String belongs to the beige family and Black grey to the blue-grey family. String (LRV 62) reflects noticeably more light than Black grey (LRV 6), a difference of 55 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 65.3, 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.
String vs Black grey in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing String 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.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. String reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.
Color Details
String vs Black grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see String 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 String comparisons
See how String stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
