Lamp Black vs French Gray

Little Greene
·
Farrow & Ball

Lamp Black (Little Greene) and French Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. The 41-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 3 for Lamp Black — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Lamp Black leans purple, French Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 55.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives.

Lamp Black vs French Gray Color Comparison

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.

ΔE 55.0Very different colors

Color Details

Lamp Black
Little Greene · 228
Hex#2e2d2e
LRV2.7
BrandLittle Greene
Number228
UndertonePurple
Temperatureneutral
Brightnessdark
View Lamp Black
French Gray
Farrow & Ball · 18
Hex#b5b19a
LRV43.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number18
Undertone
Temperaturewarm
Brightnessmedium
View French Gray

Lamp Black vs French Gray in Real Spaces

Seeing Lamp Black and French Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete. Browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall. Showing 6 room types where both colors have photos.

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. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lamp Black.

Lamp Black
Little Greene Lamp Black 228 living room accent wall

@bytherowantrees_

French Gray
Farrow and Ball 18 living room paint

@over_at_overview

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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Lamp Black
Little Greene Lamp Black 228 bedroom panelling

@visitnumber7

French Gray
Farrow and Ball French Gray bedroom color review

@renovating_a_nightmare

Dining Room

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that French Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lamp Black would.

Lamp Black
Little Greene Lamp Black 228 dining room

@queensrenovation48

French Gray
Farrow and Ball 18 dining room color

@kenliscountry_

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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Lamp Black
Little Greene Lamp Black 228 bathroom

@kattyansari

French Gray
Farrow and Ball French Gray bathroom review

@livingwithchlo_

Front Door

On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lamp Black.

Lamp Black
Little Greene Lamp Black 228 front door

@lp_lisalisa

French Gray
French Gray front door inspiration

@the_rutland_lady

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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Lamp Black
Little Greene Lamp Black 228 kitchen cabinets

@gracofurnitureltd

French Gray
French Gray kitchen cabinets photo

@myfirstvictorianhome_247

More Lamp Black comparisons

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