Agreeable Gray vs Steam
Where Agreeable Gray belongs to Sherwin-Williams's range, Steam is a Tikkurila color. Hue-wise, Agreeable Gray belongs to the greige-grey family and Steam to the greige-white family. Steam (LRV 79) reflects noticeably more light than Agreeable Gray (LRV 60), a difference of 18 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 9.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Agreeable Gray vs Steam in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Agreeable Gray and Steam are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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 Steam will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Agreeable Gray would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Steam reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Agreeable Gray.
Color Details
Agreeable Gray vs Steam Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Agreeable Gray on one side and Steam 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 Agreeable Gray comparisons
See how Agreeable Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
