Black grey vs Gray Clouds
Black grey (RAL Classic) and Gray Clouds (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Black grey reads as blue-grey, while Gray Clouds reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 41-point LRV gap — 47 for Gray Clouds vs 6 for Black grey — means Gray Clouds will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 53.9 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.
Black grey vs Gray Clouds in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black grey and Gray Clouds 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. Gray Clouds reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.
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. Gray Clouds reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Gray Clouds returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Black grey vs Gray Clouds Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black grey on one side and Gray Clouds 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.
