Gray Matters vs Nebulous White

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Gray Matters belongs to the grey family and Nebulous White to the grey-white family. At LRV 74 vs 39, Nebulous White will read as the brighter of the two — a 35-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a neutral quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 20.1, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Gray Matters vs Nebulous White in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Gray Matters and Nebulous White in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Living Room

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Nebulous White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Gray MattersSw Gray Matters Living Room

@mendez_paint_contractors_llc

Nebulous WhiteSw 7063 Living Room

@swan.of.the.earth

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 Nebulous White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Gray Matters would.

Gray MattersSw 7066 Bedroom

@sarahthepainterllc

Nebulous WhiteSW 7063 nursery color

@andi_bridgmon

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 Nebulous White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Gray Matters would.

Gray MattersSw 7066 Bathroom

@fern.leaf.designs

Nebulous WhiteSW Nebulous White bathroom color

@fenstermachercustombuilding

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Nebulous White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Gray Matters would.

Gray MattersGray Matters Kitchen Cabinets

@styled.byaustin

Nebulous WhiteSW 7063 kitchen cabinets color

@hartwares

Color Details

Gray Matters
Sherwin-Williams · 7066
Hex#A7A8A2
LRV38.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7066
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Nebulous White
Sherwin-Williams · 7063
Hex#DEDFDC
LRV73.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7063
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessLight

Gray Matters vs Nebulous White Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gray Matters on one side and Nebulous White 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 Gray Matters comparisons

See how Gray Matters stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Gray Matters
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Gray Matters
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

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

Gray Matters is the lighter choice

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

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

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

Gray Matters reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Gray Matters
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Gray Matters
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Gray Matters
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Gray Matters reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Gray Matters
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Gray Matters
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Gray Matters
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Gray Matters is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Gray Matters
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Gray Matters reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Gray Matters
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Gray Matters is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Gray Matters
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Gray Matters reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Gray Matters
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Gray Matters is the lighter choice

Piazza
Gray Matters
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Gray Matters
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Gray Matters
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Gray Matters reads slightly lighter

Senses
Gray Matters
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Gray Matters
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Gray Matters is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Gray Matters
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

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

Gray Matters reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Gray Matters
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Gray Matters reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Gray Matters
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Gray Matters is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Gray Matters
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Gray Matters
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Gray Matters reads slightly lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Gray Matters
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Gray Matters
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Gray Matters reads noticeably lighter