Steely Gaze vs Rain
Where Steely Gaze belongs to PPG's range, Rain is a Sherwin-Williams color. Steely Gaze reads as grey, while Rain reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Steely Gaze (LRV 60) reflects noticeably more light than Rain (LRV 49), a difference of 11 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 9.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steely Gaze vs Rain in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Steely Gaze and Rain 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 LRV gap is large enough that Steely Gaze will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rain would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rain.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rain.
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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rain.
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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rain.
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 Steely Gaze will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rain would.
Color Details
Steely Gaze vs Rain Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steely Gaze on one side and Rain 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 Steely Gaze comparisons
See how Steely Gaze stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
