Barren Plain vs Thunder
Both are Benjamin Moore colors. Both sit in the greige-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. At LRV 62 vs 48, Barren Plain will read as the brighter of the two — a 15-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a red quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 9.0, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Barren Plain vs Thunder in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Barren Plain and Thunder 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Barren Plain returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Barren Plain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thunder would.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Barren Plain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thunder would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Barren Plain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thunder would.
Color Details
Barren Plain vs Thunder Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Barren Plain on one side and Thunder 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.