Outerspace vs Steely Gray
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. At LRV 30 vs 12, Steely Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 19-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Outerspace's cool character against Steely Gray's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 21.5, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Outerspace vs Steely Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Outerspace and Steely Gray 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Steely Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Steely Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Outerspace would.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Steely Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Outerspace would.
Color Details
Outerspace vs Steely Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Outerspace on one side and Steely 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 Outerspace comparisons
See how Outerspace stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 12, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
Outerspace reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 12, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 12, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 12, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 12, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Outerspace the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
With LRVs of 13 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 12, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (21 vs 12) makes Artichoke the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 12, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Outerspace reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 12, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 12), opening up a space where Outerspace encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 12, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.