Courtyard vs Swanky Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Courtyard belongs to the green-grey family and Swanky Gray to the grey family. Swanky Gray (LRV 45) reflects noticeably more light than Courtyard (LRV 9), a difference of 36 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Courtyard runs cool while Swanky Gray is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 41.4, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Courtyard vs Swanky Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Courtyard and Swanky Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Swanky Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Courtyard.
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. Swanky Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Courtyard.
Color Details
Courtyard vs Swanky Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Courtyard on one side and Swanky 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.