Steel Curtain vs Anthracite grey
Steel Curtain (PPG) and Anthracite grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Steel Curtain belongs to the grey family and Anthracite grey to the blue-grey family. The 26-point LRV gap — 34 for Steel Curtain vs 8 for Anthracite grey — means Steel Curtain will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 39.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steel Curtain vs Anthracite grey in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steel Curtain and Anthracite grey in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Steel Curtain 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. Steel Curtain 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. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Anthracite grey.
Color Details
Steel Curtain vs Anthracite grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Curtain on one side and Anthracite 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 Steel Curtain comparisons
See how Steel Curtain stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
