Colonnade Gray vs Light French Gray
Colonnade Gray and Light French Gray come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Colonnade Gray reads as greige-grey, while Light French Gray reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 53 vs 53 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Colonnade Gray leans warm, Light French Gray reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 3.1 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Colonnade Gray vs Light French Gray in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Colonnade Gray and Light French 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
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. Colonnade Gray brings more warmth to the space, while Light French Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Light French Gray reads more restrained here, while Colonnade Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Light French Gray reads more restrained here, while Colonnade Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
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. Light French Gray reads more restrained here, while Colonnade Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Light French Gray reads more restrained here, while Colonnade Gray adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Colonnade Gray vs Light French Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colonnade Gray on one side and Light French 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 Colonnade Gray comparisons
See how Colonnade Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 53, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Colonnade Gray encloses it.
Colonnade Gray reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 53 vs 30, Colonnade Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 53 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 7-point LRV gap (60 vs 53) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 53), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Colonnade Gray reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (53 vs 43) makes Colonnade Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 53 vs 4, Colonnade Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 55 and 53, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Colonnade Gray reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Colonnade Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 53, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 53 vs 21, Colonnade Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 53), opening up a space where Colonnade Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 53), opening up a space where Colonnade Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Colonnade Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 51), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Colonnade Gray reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Colonnade Gray reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 53), opening up a space where Colonnade Gray encloses it.
At LRV 53 vs 41, Colonnade Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Colonnade Gray reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Colonnade Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 53 vs 31, Colonnade Gray is decisively the brighter choice.