Connected Gray vs Zinc Luster

Connected Gray and Zinc Luster come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both greige-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within greige-grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 23 vs 23 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Both share a warm character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 1.8 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Connected Gray vs Zinc Luster in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Connected Gray and Zinc Luster 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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.

Connected GrayConnected Gray Living Room

@homeonportsmouth

Zinc LusterZinc Luster Living Room

@desertempirepainting

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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Connected GraySW Connected Gray bedroom panelling paint

@monikerdesign

Zinc LusterZinc Luster Bedroom

@desertempirepainting

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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Connected GraySw 6165 Bathroom

@lg_paintergirl

Zinc LusterSherwin Williams Zinc Luster Bathroom

@desertempirepainting

Color Details

Connected Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 6165
Hex#898473
LRV23.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6165
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Zinc Luster
Sherwin-Williams · 9514
Hex#8C8373
LRV23.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9514
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Connected Gray vs Zinc Luster Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Connected Gray on one side and Zinc Luster on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Connected Gray comparisons

See how Connected Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Connected Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Connected Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Connected Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Connected Gray reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
Connected Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Connected Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Connected Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Connected Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Connected Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Connected Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Connected Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Connected Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Connected Gray reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Connected Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Connected Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Connected Gray reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Connected Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nearly identical in tone

Black grey
Connected Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Connected Gray reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Connected Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Connected Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Connected Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Connected Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Connected Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Connected Gray reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Connected Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Connected Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Connected Gray reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Connected Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Connected Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Connected Gray reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
Connected Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Connected Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Connected Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Connected Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Connected Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Connected Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Connected Gray reads slightly lighter