Big Chill vs Gateway Gray
Big Chill and Gateway Gray come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Big Chill reads as grey, while Gateway Gray reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 20-point LRV gap — 62 for Big Chill vs 41 for Gateway Gray — means Big Chill will open up a space more effectively. Where Big Chill leans neutral, Gateway Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 13.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Big Chill vs Gateway Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Big Chill and Gateway Gray 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Big Chill reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gateway Gray.
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. Big Chill returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Big Chill vs Gateway Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Big Chill 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.