S 4500-N vs Playing Possum
Where S 4500-N belongs to NCS's range, Playing Possum is a PPG color. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Playing Possum (LRV 31) reflects noticeably more light than S 4500-N (LRV 27), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 3.4 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 4500-N vs Playing Possum in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. S 4500-N and Playing Possum 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.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Playing Possum reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Playing Possum reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The brightness difference is modest but present — Playing Possum gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
S 4500-N vs Playing Possum Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 4500-N on one side and Playing Possum 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 4500-N comparisons
See how S 4500-N stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
