Dorian Gray vs Soulful Blue

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Dorian Gray belongs to the grey family and Soulful Blue to the blue-grey family. At LRV 39 vs 20, Dorian Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 18-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Dorian Gray's neutral character against Soulful Blue's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 24.2, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Dorian Gray vs Soulful Blue in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Dorian Gray and Soulful Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Dorian Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Soulful Blue would.

Dorian GrayBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray

@mybudgetrecipes

Soulful BlueSw 6543 Nursery

@cgar____

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Dorian Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Soulful Blue would.

Dorian GraySherwin Williams Dorian Gray bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Soulful BlueSherwin Williams Soulful Blue bathroom color review

@farmfieldtoforeverhome

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Dorian Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Soulful Blue would.

Dorian GraySW 7017 house inspiration

@mybudgetrecipes

Soulful BlueSw Soulful Blue Exterior

@kerryjfitzpatrick

Color Details

Dorian Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 7017
Hex#ACA79E
LRV38.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7017
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Soulful Blue
Sherwin-Williams · 6543
Hex#757C91
LRV20.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6543
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Dorian Gray vs Soulful Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dorian Gray on one side and Soulful Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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
Dorian Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Dorian Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Dorian Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Dorian Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Dorian Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Dorian Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Dorian Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Dorian Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Dorian Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Dorian Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Dorian Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Dorian Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Dorian Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Dorian Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Dorian Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Dorian Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Dorian Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Dorian Gray reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Dorian Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Dorian Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Dorian Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Dorian Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Dorian Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter

Senses
Dorian Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Dorian Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Dorian Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Dorian Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Dorian Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Dorian Gray reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Dorian Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Dorian Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Dorian Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Dorian Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Dorian Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Dorian Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Dorian Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Dorian Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Dorian Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Dorian Gray reads noticeably lighter