Connected Gray vs Online
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Connected Gray reads as greige-grey, while Online reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Online (LRV 45) reflects noticeably more light than Connected Gray (LRV 23), a difference of 22 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Connected Gray runs warm while Online is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 21.0, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Connected Gray vs Online in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Connected Gray and Online 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
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 LRV gap is large enough that Online will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Connected Gray would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Online reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Connected Gray.
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. Online reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Connected Gray.
Color Details
Connected Gray vs Online Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Connected Gray on one side and Online 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.