The verdict in three lines. Dorian Gray SW 7017 (LRV 39) is the wall color: a mid-depth warm gray that reads decorated on all four walls without closing the room in.
Gauntlet Gray SW 7019 (LRV 17) is the statement color: a warm near-charcoal built for accent walls, islands, front doors, and exterior siding.
The undertones are close cousins, so this duel is decided by depth, not temperature. The 22-point LRV gap is the whole story, and the only honest tiebreaker is seeing both on a photo of your own room.
Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray (SW 7017) and Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) live two positions apart on the same Sherwin-Williams strip, with Dovetail SW 7018 sitting between them. They share the same warm, taupe-brown gray base, which is exactly why people cross-shop them: same character, very different weight. Unlike the classic greige duels where undertone decides everything, this matchup is a straight depth decision. For the general playbook behind any two-color decision, start with our side-by-side method for comparing two paint colors.
The numbers side by side
| Attribute | Dorian Gray SW 7017 | Gauntlet Gray SW 7019 |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Mid-depth warm gray | Warm charcoal-leaning gray |
| LRV | 39 | 17 |
| Approximate hex | #ACA79E | #78736E |
| Approximate RGB | 172, 167, 158 | 120, 115, 110 |
| Undertone | Warm taupe-brown base that can cool toward green-gray in flat light | Same warm taupe-brown base with a whisper of green-gray in the mix |
| Best role | All four walls, whole rooms, calmer exteriors | Accent walls, cabinets, front doors, dark exterior bodies |
| Watch out for | Can read cooler and grayer than the chip in dim north light | Swallows light in small or dim rooms; photographs cooler than it lives |
| Overall vibe | Grounded, open, lived-in | Dramatic, anchoring, deliberate |
Try it on your house
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LRV values are the published Sherwin-Williams figures. Hex and RGB are approximate digital renderings; the authoritative reference is a physical Sherwin-Williams chip or peel-and-stick sample.
Read that table once and the shape of this duel is obvious. The undertone rows nearly match: both colors are warm grays with a taupe-brown base and a faint green-gray muting note, which is why a Gauntlet accent never clashes with Dorian walls. Everything that matters happens in the LRV row. At 39, Dorian Gray reflects more than twice the light Gauntlet Gray does at 17. On a real wall that gap is dramatic: Dorian keeps a room feeling open while clearly darker than any greige, and Gauntlet crosses the line into statement territory, where the color becomes the feature. So the question is not "which one is warmer" but "how much weight can this surface carry."
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Room by room, surface by surface
Because the undertones agree, the same finishes flatter both colors: white trim, mid-tone wood floors, brass or matte-black hardware. What changes the winner is the size of the surface and the amount of light hitting it.
| Situation | Usual winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living room, all four walls | Dorian Gray | Enough depth to feel decorated, enough LRV to keep the room breathing |
| Accent wall behind a bed or media unit | Gauntlet Gray | At LRV 17 it anchors the wall and makes art, headboards, and shelving pop |
| Kitchen island or lower cabinets | Gauntlet Gray | Deep enough to read intentional next to white perimeter cabinets |
| Small or north-facing room | Dorian Gray | Gauntlet swallows scarce light; Dorian keeps depth without gloom |
| Bright, high-ceiling space with big windows | Either, pick by intent | Strong light lets Gauntlet stay rich while Dorian reads lighter and softer |
| Exterior body with white trim | Gauntlet Gray | Delivers the dark-body, crisp-trim look; Dorian suits a softer mid-tone body |
If the table keeps pointing you to Dorian but you suspect even LRV 39 is more weight than the room wants, the next duel up the strip settles it: the Mindful Gray vs Dorian Gray duel compares Dorian against its one-step-lighter neighbor.
When to choose Dorian Gray
- You are painting all four walls. Dorian Gray is the deepest gray most rooms can wear on every wall and still feel open, which is exactly the job a mid-depth LRV 39 color exists for.
- You want "real gray, not greige" without going dark. Dorian reads unmistakably gray next to beige-leaning neutrals, yet it stays in the livable middle band.
- The room has average or unpredictable light. Mid-depth colors forgive mixed exposures; Dorian shifts between warm greige in sun and cooler gray in shade without collapsing.
- You plan a tone-on-tone scheme. Dorian on walls leaves headroom for Gauntlet or another deep shade on a single feature, which a dark wall color would not.
For its full lighting behavior, best rooms, and trim pairings, see the dedicated Dorian Gray undertones and best rooms profile.
When to choose Gauntlet Gray
- The surface is a feature, not a backdrop. Accent walls, built-ins, a kitchen island, a front door: Gauntlet Gray gives near-charcoal drama while staying warmer and softer than black.
- The space is bright. Big windows or strong southern light let an LRV 17 color keep its richness instead of turning into a shadow.
- You want a dark exterior that is not black. Gauntlet holds up in harsh daylight and pairs naturally with crisp white trim on siding.
- Your contrast partner is already set. Against bright white cabinets or trim, Gauntlet creates the strong, deliberate contrast that Dorian only hints at.
The full treatment of its charcoal side, including where it flattens and how it photographs, lives in the Gauntlet Gray room-by-room guide.
Same wall, both grays, your actual light. Free render in about 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Dorian Gray and Gauntlet Gray?
Depth, not undertone. Both are warm grays from the same Sherwin-Williams strip with a taupe-brown base, but Dorian Gray SW 7017 has an LRV of 39 while Gauntlet Gray SW 7019 sits at 17. Dorian works as a whole-room wall color; Gauntlet is a near-charcoal that behaves like a statement color on accents, cabinets, and exteriors.
Is Gauntlet Gray too dark for interior walls?
For all four walls of a small or dim room, usually yes: at LRV 17 it absorbs most of the light that hits it. It excels on a single accent wall, on cabinetry, or in a bright, high-ceiling space where strong daylight keeps it rich instead of gloomy. Sample it on the actual wall before committing to a full room.
Can I use Dorian Gray and Gauntlet Gray together?
Yes, and it is one of the safest dark-plus-mid pairings in the Sherwin-Williams deck. They come from the same strip and share the same warm base, so Dorian on the main walls with Gauntlet on an accent wall, island, or front door reads as one coordinated scheme rather than two competing grays.
Which is better for kitchen cabinets, Dorian Gray or Gauntlet Gray?
It depends on the role. Gauntlet Gray is the classic island or lower-cabinet color: deep enough to read intentional next to white perimeter cabinets and stone counters. Dorian Gray suits full-perimeter cabinets in bright kitchens where a near-charcoal would feel heavy. Either way, check the color under your own kitchen lighting before committing.
Settle it on your photo
A 22-point LRV gap sounds decisive on paper, but rooms are not paper. A bright wall of windows can make Gauntlet Gray the obvious pick, and a north-facing den can make even Dorian Gray feel like plenty. The fastest honest answer is to test both colors on a photo of your actual room and let your own light choose. And if this duel taught you that you actually want a lighter neutral altogether, the Agreeable Gray vs Repose Gray verdict covers the most cross-shopped light greige pair in the deck.
1 HD render plus 3 free color variations. Start with Dorian Gray, swap to Gauntlet Gray in one click.
Trademark notice. Sherwin-Williams®, Dorian Gray®, Gauntlet Gray®, Dovetail® and Mindful Gray® are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. FacadeColorizer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Sherwin-Williams Company. Brand and color names are used for descriptive and editorial purposes only, consistent with nominative fair use. Hex and RGB values are approximate digital renderings; the only authoritative reference is a physical Sherwin-Williams color sample.
Trademarks mentioned (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, Caparol, Brillux, Sto, Alpina, Valspar, PPG, Glidden, Dulux, Crown Trade, Sandtex, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone's, Leyland) are property of their respective owners. FacadeColorizer is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Nominative fair use under Lanham Act §1125.
