Allegory vs Gateway Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Allegory belongs to the grey family and Gateway Gray to the greige-grey family. Allegory (LRV 45) reflects noticeably more light than Gateway Gray (LRV 41), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Allegory runs neutral while Gateway Gray is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 4.7 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.
Allegory vs Gateway Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Allegory and Gateway Gray 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 brightness difference is modest but present — Allegory gives the walls a little more lift.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Allegory reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Allegory vs Gateway Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Allegory on one side and Gateway Gray 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.