Dorian Gray vs Ethereal Mood
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Dorian Gray belongs to the grey family and Ethereal Mood to the greige-grey family. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (39 vs 38), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. Dorian Gray runs neutral while Ethereal Mood is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 4.7 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dorian Gray vs Ethereal Mood in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Dorian Gray and Ethereal Mood 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
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 temperature contrast between Ethereal Mood and Dorian Gray is what sets these apart most in this context.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Ethereal Mood brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Ethereal Mood brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Ethereal Mood brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Ethereal Mood brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The temperature contrast between Ethereal Mood and Dorian Gray is what sets these apart most in this context.
Color Details
Dorian Gray vs Ethereal Mood Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dorian Gray on one side and Ethereal Mood 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.