Mineral Deposit vs Unusual Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Mineral Deposit (LRV 43) reflects noticeably more light than Unusual Gray (LRV 38), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 3.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Mineral Deposit vs Unusual Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Mineral Deposit and Unusual Gray are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Mineral Deposit gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Mineral Deposit 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. Mineral Deposit reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Mineral Deposit reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Mineral Deposit vs Unusual Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mineral Deposit on one side and Unusual 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 Mineral Deposit comparisons
See how Mineral Deposit stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 43, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Mineral Deposit reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 30, Mineral Deposit is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
Mineral Deposit reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 43), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 43 vs 4, Mineral Deposit is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
Mineral Deposit reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 43, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 21, Mineral Deposit is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
Mineral Deposit reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 43), opening up a space where Mineral Deposit encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 43, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 25, Mineral Deposit is decisively the brighter choice.
Mineral Deposit reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 11-point LRV gap (43 vs 31) makes Mineral Deposit the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 7, Mineral Deposit is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 24, Mineral Deposit is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 43, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.