Discrete vs Dovetail
Discrete (Jotun) and Dovetail (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 24 vs 26 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 1.7 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Discrete vs Dovetail in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Discrete and Dovetail 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
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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Discrete vs Dovetail Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Discrete on one side and Dovetail 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 Discrete comparisons
See how Discrete stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 24, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (30 vs 24) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 24, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
With LRVs of 27 and 24, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 24, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 24, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
Discrete reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Discrete reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
Discrete reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 24), opening up a space where Discrete encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (31 vs 24) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.