Pearl Gray vs Paper

Pearl GraySherwin-WilliamsvsPaperTikkurilaΔE 13.3Distinct difference

Pearl Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color while Paper comes from Tikkurila. Pearl Gray reads as green-grey, while Paper reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 88 vs 61, Paper will read as the brighter of the two — a 28-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 13.3, 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.

Pearl Gray vs Paper in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Pearl Gray and Paper 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. Paper returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Pearl GraySw pearl gray living room

@specpaintinginc

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 living room day mood

@harmaamaja

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Paper will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pearl Gray would.

Pearl GraySw pearl gray bedroom

@hannahrosehandmade

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 bedroom

@harmaamaja

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Paper will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pearl Gray would.

Pearl GraySW Pearl Gray house exterior color review

@daguecommunities

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 house garage interior

@harmaamaja

Color Details

Pearl Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 0052
Hex#CBCEC5
LRV60.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number0052
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessLight
Paper
Tikkurila · F497
Hex#F2F2ED
LRV88.4
BrandTikkurila
NumberF497
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

Pearl Gray vs Paper Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pearl Gray on one side and Paper on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Pearl Gray comparisons

See how Pearl Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Pearl Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads noticeably lighter

Ammonite
Pearl Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads slightly lighter

Iron Ore
Pearl Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Pearl Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Pearl Gray reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Pearl Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Pearl Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Pearl Gray reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Pearl Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Nearly identical in tone

Denim Drift
Pearl Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Pearl Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Pearl Gray reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Pearl Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Pearl Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Pearl Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Pearl Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Pearl Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Black grey
Pearl Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Pearl Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Pearl Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Pearl Gray reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Pearl Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Senses
Pearl Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Pearl Gray reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Pearl Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Pearl Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Pearl Gray reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Pearl Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Pearl Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Pearl Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Pearl Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Pearl Gray reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Pearl Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Pearl Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-1
Pearl Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Pearl Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Pearl Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
Pearl Gray
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

Pearl Gray reads noticeably lighter