Curio Gray vs Dorian Gray
Curio Gray and Dorian Gray come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Curio Gray reads as greige-grey, while Dorian Gray reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 13-point LRV gap — 39 for Dorian Gray vs 26 for Curio Gray — means Dorian Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Curio Gray leans warm, Dorian Gray reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 12.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Curio Gray vs Dorian Gray in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Curio Gray and Dorian 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. Dorian Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Curio Gray.
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. Dorian Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Dorian Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Dorian Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Mudroom
In a hardworking space like a mudroom, the depth and warmth of a color reads differently than in a quieter room. The LRV gap is large enough that Dorian Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Curio Gray would.
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. Dorian Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Dorian Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Curio Gray.
Color Details
Curio Gray vs Dorian Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Curio Gray on one side and Dorian 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.