S 1502-Y vs Useful Gray
Where S 1502-Y belongs to NCS's range, Useful Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color. S 1502-Y reads as greige-grey, while Useful Gray reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. S 1502-Y (LRV 64) reflects noticeably more light than Useful Gray (LRV 59), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. At ΔE 3.0, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 1502-Y vs Useful Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. S 1502-Y and Useful 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.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — S 1502-Y gives the walls a little more lift.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. S 1502-Y has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. S 1502-Y reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
S 1502-Y vs Useful Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 1502-Y on one side and Useful 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 S 1502-Y comparisons
See how S 1502-Y stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
