Northern Mystic vs Functional Gray
Northern Mystic is a Jotun color while Functional Gray comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Northern Mystic belongs to the green-grey family and Functional Gray to the greige-grey family. At LRV 37 vs 15, Functional Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 22-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Northern Mystic's neutral character against Functional Gray's warm — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 22.7, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Northern Mystic vs Functional Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Northern Mystic and Functional Gray 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Functional Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Functional Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Northern Mystic would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Functional Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Northern Mystic would.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Functional Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Northern Mystic would.
Color Details
Northern Mystic vs Functional Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Northern Mystic on one side and Functional Gray 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 Northern Mystic comparisons
See how Northern Mystic stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
