Hicks' Blue vs Austere Gray
Hicks' Blue (Little Greene) and Austere Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Hicks' Blue belongs to the blue family and Austere Gray to the greige-grey family. Austere Gray has an LRV of 51. Where Hicks' Blue leans blue, Austere Gray reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 44.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Hicks' Blue vs Austere Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Hicks' Blue and Austere 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
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. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
Hicks' Blue vs Austere Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hicks' Blue on one side and Austere 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 Hicks' Blue comparisons
See how Hicks' Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
