Essential Gray vs Nouvelle White
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Essential Gray belongs to the grey family and Nouvelle White to the grey-white family. Nouvelle White (LRV 72) reflects noticeably more light than Essential Gray (LRV 48), a difference of 24 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Essential Gray runs neutral while Nouvelle White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 13.0, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Essential Gray vs Nouvelle White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Essential Gray on one side and Nouvelle White 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 Essential Gray comparisons
See how Essential Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
