Dusty Heather vs Link Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Dusty Heather belongs to the blue-grey family and Link Gray to the grey family. Dusty Heather (LRV 28) reflects noticeably more light than Link Gray (LRV 21), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Dusty Heather runs cool while Link Gray is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 19.3, 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 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dusty Heather vs Link Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Dusty Heather and Link Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Dusty Heather reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Dusty Heather reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Dusty Heather reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Dusty Heather vs Link Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dusty Heather on one side and Link 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 Dusty Heather comparisons
See how Dusty Heather stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 60 vs 28, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 28), opening up a space where Dusty Heather encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 28, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 28), opening up a space where Dusty Heather encloses it.