Dorian Gray vs Downing Earth
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Dorian Gray reads as grey, while Downing Earth reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Dorian Gray (LRV 39) reflects noticeably more light than Downing Earth (LRV 20), a difference of 18 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Dorian Gray runs neutral while Downing Earth is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 18.1, 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 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dorian Gray vs Downing Earth in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Dorian Gray and Downing Earth 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 Dorian Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Downing Earth 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. Dorian Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Downing Earth.
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. Dorian Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Downing Earth.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Dorian Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Downing Earth.
Mudroom
Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. Dorian Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Dorian Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Downing Earth.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Dorian Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Downing Earth would.
Color Details
Dorian Gray vs Downing Earth Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dorian Gray on one side and Downing Earth 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.