Windmill Lane vs Austere Gray
Windmill Lane (Little Greene) and Austere Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Windmill Lane reads as green-grey, while Austere Gray reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 20-point LRV gap — 51 for Austere Gray vs 31 for Windmill Lane — means Austere Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Windmill Lane leans green, Austere Gray reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 15.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Windmill Lane vs Austere Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Windmill Lane 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. Austere Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Windmill Lane.
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. Austere Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Austere Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Windmill Lane vs Austere Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Windmill Lane 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 Windmill Lane comparisons
See how Windmill Lane stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
