S 3005-G20Y vs Unusual Gray
Where S 3005-G20Y belongs to NCS's range, Unusual Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (40 vs 38), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. At ΔE 1.8, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 3005-G20Y vs Unusual Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. S 3005-G20Y and Unusual 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 two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Color Details
S 3005-G20Y vs Unusual Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 3005-G20Y on one side and Unusual 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 3005-G20Y comparisons
See how S 3005-G20Y stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
