Anew Gray vs Soulful Blue
Anew Gray and Soulful Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Anew Gray reads as greige-grey, while Soulful Blue reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 27-point LRV gap — 47 for Anew Gray vs 20 for Soulful Blue — means Anew Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Anew Gray leans warm, Soulful Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 29.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Anew Gray vs Soulful Blue in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Anew Gray and Soulful Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Anew Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Anew Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Anew Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Anew Gray vs Soulful Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Anew Gray on one side and Soulful Blue 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 Anew Gray comparisons
See how Anew Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 47), opening up a space where Anew Gray encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (52 vs 47) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 47 vs 30, Anew Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 47, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Anew Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (47 vs 43) makes Anew Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Anew Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 47, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 47), opening up a space where Anew Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 47), opening up a space where Anew Gray encloses it.
Anew Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 47), opening up a space where Anew Gray encloses it.
Anew Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 47 and 45, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 47 vs 31, Anew Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 7, Anew Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 24, Anew Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (57 vs 47) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.