Obsidian vs Graphite grey
Obsidian is a Cloverdale Paint color while Graphite grey comes from RAL Classic. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. At LRV 9 vs 6, Graphite grey will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. With a ΔE of 1.7, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Obsidian vs Graphite grey in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Obsidian and Graphite grey are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The brightness difference is modest but present — Graphite grey gives the walls a little more lift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Graphite grey gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Obsidian vs Graphite grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Obsidian on one side and Graphite grey 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 Obsidian comparisons
See how Obsidian stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 6, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 6), opening up a space where Obsidian encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 6), opening up a space where Obsidian encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 6), opening up a space where Obsidian encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 6, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 6, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 6), opening up a space where Obsidian encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 6, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 6, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 6), opening up a space where Obsidian encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 6, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 6, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (12 vs 6) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 6, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (12 vs 6) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 6, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 6), opening up a space where Obsidian encloses it.