Magnetic Gray vs Naval
Magnetic Gray and Naval come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Magnetic Gray belongs to the grey family and Naval to the blue family. The 41-point LRV gap — 46 for Magnetic Gray vs 4 for Naval — means Magnetic Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Magnetic Gray leans neutral, Naval reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 50.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Magnetic Gray vs Naval in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Magnetic Gray and Naval 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Magnetic Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Naval.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Magnetic Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Magnetic Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Naval would.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Magnetic Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Magnetic Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Naval.
Color Details
Magnetic Gray vs Naval Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Magnetic Gray on one side and Naval 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 Magnetic Gray comparisons
See how Magnetic Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 46, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 46), opening up a space where Magnetic Gray encloses it.
At LRV 46 vs 6, Magnetic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 46), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Magnetic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (52 vs 46) makes Mizzle the marginally brighter of the two.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 46), opening up a space where Magnetic Gray encloses it.
A 12-point LRV gap (58 vs 46) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 46 vs 27, Magnetic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 46 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 9-point LRV gap (55 vs 46) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 46 vs 13, Magnetic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 46 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 46), opening up a space where Magnetic Gray encloses it.
Magnetic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 46, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 46, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 46, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 46 vs 12, Magnetic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 46, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Magnetic Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 46 vs 41), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 46), opening up a space where Magnetic Gray encloses it.
Magnetic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 46 vs 12, Magnetic Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 46 vs 45), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Magnetic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Magnetic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Magnetic Gray reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 46), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 46), opening up a space where Magnetic Gray encloses it.