Grays Harbor vs Software
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Grays Harbor belongs to the blue-grey family and Software to the grey family. Software (LRV 23) reflects noticeably more light than Grays Harbor (LRV 12), a difference of 11 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 13.8, 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.
Grays Harbor vs Software in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Grays Harbor and Software 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 Software will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Grays Harbor would.
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. Software reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Grays Harbor.
Color Details
Grays Harbor vs Software Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Grays Harbor on one side and Software 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 Grays Harbor comparisons
See how Grays Harbor stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 12, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
Grays Harbor reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 12, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 12, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 12, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 12, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Grays Harbor the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
With LRVs of 13 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 12, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (21 vs 12) makes Artichoke the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 12, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Grays Harbor reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 12, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 12), opening up a space where Grays Harbor encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 12, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.