Black grey vs Colony Buff
Where Black grey belongs to RAL Classic's range, Colony Buff is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, Black grey belongs to the blue-grey family and Colony Buff to the beige family. Colony Buff (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Black grey (LRV 6), a difference of 52 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 63.4, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black grey vs Colony Buff in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Black grey and Colony Buff 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
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 Colony Buff will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black grey would.
Color Details
Black grey vs Colony Buff Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black grey on one side and Colony Buff 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 Black grey comparisons
See how Black grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
