Alpaca vs Colonnade Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the greige-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Alpaca (LRV 57) reflects noticeably more light than Colonnade Gray (LRV 53), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. At ΔE 2.3, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Alpaca vs Colonnade Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Alpaca and Colonnade 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 — Alpaca gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Alpaca reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Alpaca reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Alpaca reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Alpaca vs Colonnade Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alpaca on one side and Colonnade 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.
More Alpaca comparisons
See how Alpaca stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 57, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Alpaca reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Alpaca reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 57), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 27, Alpaca is decisively the brighter choice.
Alpaca reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 57 vs 55), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 44, Alpaca is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 57), opening up a space where Alpaca encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (66 vs 57) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 57, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 12, Alpaca is decisively the brighter choice.
A 12-point LRV gap (68 vs 57) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 12, Alpaca is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (57 vs 45) makes Alpaca the marginally brighter of the two.
Alpaca reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Alpaca reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Alpaca reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
With LRVs of 57 and 57, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.