Modern Gray vs Shoji White
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. Shoji White (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Modern Gray (LRV 62), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 6.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Modern Gray vs Shoji White in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Modern Gray and Shoji White 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 LRV gap is large enough that Shoji White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Modern Gray would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Modern Gray.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Modern 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. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Modern Gray.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Modern 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. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Modern Gray.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Shoji White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Modern Gray would.
Color Details
Modern Gray vs Shoji White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Modern Gray on one side and Shoji 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 Modern Gray comparisons
See how Modern Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 62), opening up a space where Modern Gray encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (69 vs 62) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (62 vs 52) makes Modern Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 62 vs 30, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Modern Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 62 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 62 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Modern Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 62 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 62 vs 43, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 4, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Modern Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 62 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 62, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 21, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 62), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 62), opening up a space where Modern Gray encloses it.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 62), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 62 vs 41, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (68 vs 62) makes Calamine the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 62 vs 25, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Modern Gray reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 62 vs 31, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 7, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 24, Modern Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (62 vs 57) makes Modern Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
A 10-point LRV gap (72 vs 62) makes Just Walnut the marginally brighter of the two.