Nimbus vs Thunder
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both greige-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within greige-grey to land. Nimbus (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Thunder (LRV 48), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Nimbus runs yellow and red while Thunder is decidedly red, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 7.4 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Nimbus vs Thunder in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Nimbus 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
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 Nimbus will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thunder would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Nimbus reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thunder.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Nimbus reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thunder.
Color Details
Nimbus vs Thunder Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Nimbus 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.