Rare Gray vs Paper
Where Rare Gray belongs to Sherwin-Williams's range, Paper is a Tikkurila color. Hue-wise, Rare Gray belongs to the grey family and Paper to the beige-greige family. Paper (LRV 88) reflects noticeably more light than Rare Gray (LRV 38), a difference of 51 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 27.8, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Rare Gray vs Paper in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Rare 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.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Paper 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. Paper reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Rare Gray.
Color Details
Rare Gray vs Paper Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Rare Gray on one side and Paper 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.
