Functional Gray vs Griffin
Functional Gray and Griffin come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the greige-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 24-point LRV gap — 37 for Functional Gray vs 13 for Griffin — means Functional Gray will open up a space more effectively. Both share a warm character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 24.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Functional Gray vs Griffin in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Functional Gray and Griffin 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
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. Functional Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Griffin.
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. Functional Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Functional Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Functional Gray vs Griffin Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Functional Gray on one side and Griffin 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 Functional Gray comparisons
See how Functional Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 37, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
Functional Gray reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 37, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (37 vs 30) makes Functional Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 37, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
Functional Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (43 vs 37) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 37 vs 4, Functional Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
Functional Gray reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 37), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 37, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 37 vs 21, Functional Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 37, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Functional Gray reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Functional Gray reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 37), opening up a space where Functional Gray encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (41 vs 37) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Functional Gray reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 37), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (37 vs 31) makes Functional Gray the marginally brighter of the two.