Black grey vs Rarified Air
Black grey is a RAL Classic color while Rarified Air comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Black grey belongs to the blue-grey family and Rarified Air to the blue-white family. At LRV 78 vs 6, Rarified Air will read as the brighter of the two — a 72-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 70.4, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black grey vs Rarified Air in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Black grey and Rarified Air in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Rarified Air will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black grey would.
Color Details
Black grey vs Rarified Air Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black grey on one side and Rarified Air 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.
