Dorian Gray vs Illusion
Dorian Gray and Illusion come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Dorian Gray reads as grey, while Illusion reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 39 vs 40 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Dorian Gray leans neutral, Illusion reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 3.5 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Dorian Gray vs Illusion in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Dorian Gray and Illusion 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.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Illusion brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Dorian Gray reads more restrained here, while Illusion adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Dorian Gray reads more restrained here, while Illusion adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Dorian Gray reads more restrained here, while Illusion adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Mudroom
In a hardworking space like a mudroom, the depth and warmth of a color reads differently than in a quieter room. The temperature contrast between Illusion and Dorian Gray is what sets these apart most in this context.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Dorian Gray reads more restrained here, while Illusion adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Illusion brings more warmth to the space, while Dorian Gray keeps things cooler and crisper.
Color Details
Dorian Gray vs Illusion Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dorian Gray on one side and Illusion 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 Dorian Gray comparisons
See how Dorian Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 39, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 39, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (39 vs 30) makes Dorian Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 39, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Dorian Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 39) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 39 vs 4, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 39, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 21, Dorian Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
A 12-point LRV gap (51 vs 39) makes Pigeon the marginally brighter of the two.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 39), opening up a space where Dorian Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 41 vs 39), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Dorian Gray reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (39 vs 31) makes Dorian Gray the marginally brighter of the two.