Storm Cloud Gray vs Iron Ore
Storm Cloud Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. The 23-point LRV gap — 29 for Storm Cloud Gray vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Storm Cloud Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Storm Cloud Gray leans yellow, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 32.4 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.
Storm Cloud Gray vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Storm Cloud Gray and Iron Ore 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. Storm Cloud Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Storm Cloud 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. Storm Cloud 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
Storm Cloud Gray vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Storm Cloud Gray on one side and Iron Ore 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 Storm Cloud Gray comparisons
See how Storm Cloud Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 29, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 29, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 29, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
With LRVs of 29 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 29, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 4, Storm Cloud Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
Storm Cloud Gray reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 29, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (29 vs 21) makes Storm Cloud Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 29, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Storm Cloud Gray reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Storm Cloud Gray reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 29, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Storm Cloud Gray reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 29), opening up a space where Storm Cloud Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 29 vs 7, Storm Cloud Gray is decisively the brighter choice.