Dorian Gray vs Pussywillow
Dorian Gray and Pussywillow come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Dorian Gray belongs to the grey family and Pussywillow to the greige-grey family. The 3-point LRV gap — 42 for Pussywillow vs 39 for Dorian Gray — means Pussywillow will open up a space more effectively. Where Dorian Gray leans neutral, Pussywillow reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.2 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dorian Gray vs Pussywillow in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Dorian Gray and Pussywillow 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
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. Pussywillow reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Pussywillow has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Pussywillow has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Pussywillow has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Pussywillow has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Pussywillow reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Dorian Gray vs Pussywillow Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dorian Gray on one side and Pussywillow 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.