Ashen vs Cement grey
Ashen (PPG) and Cement grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Ashen belongs to the beige-greige family and Cement grey to the grey family. The 28-point LRV gap — 52 for Ashen vs 24 for Cement grey — means Ashen will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 24.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ashen vs Cement grey in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Ashen and Cement grey 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. Ashen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Cement grey.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Ashen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Ashen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Ashen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Ashen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Cement grey.
Color Details
Ashen vs Cement grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ashen on one side and Cement grey 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 Ashen comparisons
See how Ashen stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 52, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 52 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Ashen reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (58 vs 52) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 52 vs 27, Ashen is decisively the brighter choice.
Ashen reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 3-point LRV gap (55 vs 52) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
A 8-point LRV gap (52 vs 44) makes Ashen the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 52), opening up a space where Ashen encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 52, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 52, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 12, Ashen is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 8, Ashen is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 52, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 12, Ashen is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (52 vs 45) makes Ashen the marginally brighter of the two.
Ashen reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.