Modern Gray vs Relaxed Khaki
Modern Gray and Relaxed Khaki come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. The 12-point LRV gap — 62 for Modern Gray vs 50 for Relaxed Khaki — means Modern Gray will open up a space more effectively. Both share a warm character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 10.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Modern Gray vs Relaxed Khaki in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Modern Gray and Relaxed Khaki 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. Modern Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Relaxed Khaki.
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. Modern Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Modern Gray vs Relaxed Khaki Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Modern Gray on one side and Relaxed Khaki 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 Modern Gray comparisons
See how Modern Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 62 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 62), opening up a space where Modern Gray encloses it.