Perennial Grey vs Functional Gray
Perennial Grey (Little Greene) and Functional Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both greige-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within greige-grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 38 vs 37 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Perennial Grey leans red, Functional Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 1.4 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Perennial Grey vs Functional Gray in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Perennial Grey and Functional Gray 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.
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.
Color Details
Perennial Grey vs Functional Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Perennial Grey 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 Perennial Grey comparisons
See how Perennial Grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
