Steely Gray vs Studio Mauve
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Steely Gray reads as blue-grey, while Studio Mauve reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Studio Mauve (LRV 50) reflects noticeably more light than Steely Gray (LRV 30), a difference of 20 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Steely Gray runs neutral while Studio Mauve is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 16.2, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steely Gray vs Studio Mauve in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steely Gray and Studio Mauve 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Studio Mauve will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Steely Gray would.
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. Studio Mauve reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Steely Gray.
Color Details
Steely Gray vs Studio Mauve Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steely Gray on one side and Studio Mauve 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.