African Gray vs Frank Blue paint color comparison

African Gray vs Frank Blue

African GraySherwin-WilliamsvsFrank BlueSherwin-WilliamsΔE 44.2 — Very different colors

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. African Gray reads as grey, while Frank Blue reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 31 vs 8, African Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 23-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — African Gray's neutral character against Frank Blue's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 44.2, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

African Gray vs Frank Blue in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing African Gray and Frank Blue 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. African Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

African GraySW African Gray living room color review

@affordablepaintingfw

Frank BlueSw 6967 Renovation

@laderachronicles

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that African Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Frank Blue would.

African GraySherwin Williams African Gray kitchen cabinets

@nicolemariepainting

Frank BlueSW Byte Blue kitchen cabinets color

@colleen_x_design

Color Details

African Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 9162
LRV31.0
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9162
Undertone—
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Frank Blue
Sherwin-Williams · 6967
LRV8.2
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6967
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

African Gray vs Frank Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see African Gray on one side and Frank Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.