African Gray vs Slate Tile
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. African Gray reads as grey, while Slate Tile reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. African Gray (LRV 31) reflects noticeably more light than Slate Tile (LRV 15), a difference of 16 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. African Gray runs neutral while Slate Tile is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 17.6, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
African Gray vs Slate Tile in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing African Gray and Slate Tile 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 African Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Slate Tile would.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. African Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Slate Tile.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. African Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Slate Tile.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. African Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Slate Tile.
Color Details
African Gray vs Slate Tile Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see African Gray on one side and Slate Tile 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 African Gray comparisons
See how African Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
