Rare Gray vs Snowbound
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Rare Gray reads as grey, while Snowbound reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Snowbound (LRV 83) reflects noticeably more light than Rare Gray (LRV 38), a difference of 45 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Rare Gray runs neutral while Snowbound is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 25.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Rare Gray vs Snowbound in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Rare Gray and Snowbound in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare 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. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare 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. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare Gray.
Color Details
Rare Gray vs Snowbound Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Rare Gray on one side and Snowbound 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 Rare Gray comparisons
See how Rare Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 38, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 38), opening up a space where Rare Gray encloses it.
Rare Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 38), opening up a space where Rare Gray encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 38, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (38 vs 27) makes Rare Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 38, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (44 vs 38) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 38), opening up a space where Rare Gray encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 38, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 38, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 12, Rare Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 38, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 12, Rare Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (45 vs 38) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Rare Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Rare Gray reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Rare Gray reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 38), opening up a space where Rare Gray encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 38), opening up a space where Rare Gray encloses it.