Clay vs Black grey

ClayLittle GreenevsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 64.0Very different colors

Clay (Little Greene) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Clay reads as beige, while Black grey reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 50-point LRV gap — 56 for Clay vs 6 for Black grey — means Clay will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 64.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Clay vs Black grey in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Clay 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

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. Clay reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.

ClayLittle Greene Clay 39 review

@25beautifulhomesmagazine

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 living room

@dorfstadtvilla

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Clay returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

ClayLittle Greene Clay kitchen cabinets paint review

@ct_painting

Black greyRAL Classic 7021 kitchen cabinets paint review

@a.jak.agata

Color Details

Clay
Little Greene · 39
Hex#d4c59c
LRV56.3
BrandLittle Greene
Number39
UndertoneYellow and Red
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Clay vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Clay on one side and Black grey 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 Clay comparisons

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

White Dove
Clay
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Clay
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Clay
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Clay is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Clay
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Clay reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Clay
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Clay is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Clay
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Clay reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Clay
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Clay
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Clay is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Clay
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
Clay
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Clay
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Clay is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Clay
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Clay is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Clay
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Clay is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Clay
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Clay is the lighter choice

Piazza
Clay
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Clay
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Grey Blue
Clay
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

Clay is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Clay
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Clay is the lighter choice

Senses
Clay
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Clay reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Clay
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Clay is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Clay
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Tea with Florence
Clay
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Clay is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Clay
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Clay is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Clay
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Clay is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Clay
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Clay reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Clay
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Clay is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Clay
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Clay
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Paper
Clay
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Clay
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Clay is the lighter choice