Dorian Gray vs Functional Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Dorian Gray belongs to the grey family and Functional Gray to the greige-grey family. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (39 vs 37), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. Dorian Gray runs neutral while Functional Gray is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. At ΔE 1.7, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dorian Gray vs Functional Gray in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Dorian Gray and Functional Gray 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 Functional Gray 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. Functional Gray 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. Functional Gray 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. Functional Gray brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Functional Gray brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
Color Details
Dorian Gray vs Functional Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dorian Gray on one side and Functional 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.
More Dorian Gray comparisons
See how Dorian Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 39, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 39, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (39 vs 30) makes Dorian Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 39, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 39) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 39 vs 4, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 39, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 21, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 41 vs 39), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 39, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 25, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (39 vs 31) makes Dorian Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 39 vs 7, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 24, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 39, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.