Steely Gaze vs Still Water
Steely Gaze (PPG) and Still Water (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Steely Gaze reads as grey, while Still Water reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 50-point LRV gap — 60 for Steely Gaze vs 10 for Still Water — means Steely Gaze will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 44.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steely Gaze vs Still Water in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steely Gaze and Still Water 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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Still Water.
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. Steely Gaze 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. Steely Gaze returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Steely Gaze 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. Steely Gaze 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. Steely Gaze reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Still Water.
Color Details
Steely Gaze vs Still Water Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steely Gaze on one side and Still Water 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.
