S 3000-N vs Chelsea Gray
S 3000-N (NCS) and Chelsea Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 3-point LRV gap — 47 for Chelsea Gray vs 44 for S 3000-N — means Chelsea Gray will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 3.6 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 3000-N vs Chelsea Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. S 3000-N and Chelsea 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
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. Chelsea Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Chelsea Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Chelsea Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
S 3000-N vs Chelsea Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 3000-N on one side and Chelsea 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 3000-N comparisons
See how S 3000-N stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 44, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
S 3000-N reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 44), opening up a space where S 3000-N encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 44, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 27, S 3000-N is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 44 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 12-point LRV gap (55 vs 44) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 44 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 44), opening up a space where S 3000-N encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 44, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 44, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 12, S 3000-N is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 44, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 12, S 3000-N is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 45 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.
S 3000-N reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
S 3000-N reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
S 3000-N reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 44), opening up a space where S 3000-N encloses it.