Proper Gray vs Timeless Taupe

Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Proper Gray reads as grey, while Timeless Taupe reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Proper Gray (LRV 40) reflects noticeably more light than Timeless Taupe (LRV 24), a difference of 16 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Proper Gray runs neutral while Timeless Taupe is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 14.6, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.