Quartz grey vs Downing Slate
Quartz grey (RAL Classic) and Downing Slate (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Quartz grey belongs to the grey family and Downing Slate to the blue-grey family. The 4-point LRV gap — 21 for Downing Slate vs 17 for Quartz grey — means Downing Slate will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 13.8 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.
Quartz grey vs Downing Slate in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Quartz grey and Downing Slate in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Downing Slate has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Downing Slate reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Downing Slate has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Quartz grey vs Downing Slate Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Quartz grey on one side and Downing Slate 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 Quartz grey comparisons
See how Quartz grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
