Steel Curtain vs Quartz grey
Where Steel Curtain belongs to PPG's range, Quartz grey is a RAL Classic color. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Steel Curtain (LRV 34) reflects noticeably more light than Quartz grey (LRV 17), a difference of 17 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 22.0, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steel Curtain vs Quartz grey in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steel Curtain and Quartz 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
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Quartz grey.
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. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Quartz grey.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Steel Curtain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Quartz grey would.
Color Details
Steel Curtain vs Quartz grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Curtain on one side and Quartz 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.
