Link Gray vs Pure White
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Link Gray reads as grey, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Pure White (LRV 84) reflects noticeably more light than Link Gray (LRV 21), a difference of 63 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Link Gray runs neutral while Pure White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 40.9, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Link Gray vs Pure White in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Link Gray and Pure White 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. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Link Gray.
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. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Link Gray.
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. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Link Gray.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Link Gray.
Color Details
Link Gray vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Link Gray on one side and Pure 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 Link Gray comparisons
See how Link Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 21, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 21), opening up a space where Link Gray encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 21), opening up a space where Link Gray encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 21, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (27 vs 21) makes Denim Drift the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 21), opening up a space where Link Gray encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 21, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 21, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 21, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 21, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (21 vs 12) makes Link Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 21, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (21 vs 12) makes Link Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 21, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Link Gray reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Cement grey reads slightly lighter (LRV 24 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 21), opening up a space where Link Gray encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 21), opening up a space where Link Gray encloses it.