Purbeck Stone vs Before the Storm
Purbeck Stone (Farrow & Ball) and Before the Storm (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Purbeck Stone belongs to the greige-grey family and Before the Storm to the grey family. The 34-point LRV gap — 52 for Purbeck Stone vs 18 for Before the Storm — means Purbeck Stone will open up a space more effectively. Where Purbeck Stone leans warm, Before the Storm reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 28.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Purbeck Stone vs Before the Storm in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Purbeck Stone and Before the Storm 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. Purbeck Stone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Before the Storm.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Purbeck Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Purbeck Stone vs Before the Storm Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Purbeck Stone on one side and Before the Storm 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 Purbeck Stone comparisons
See how Purbeck Stone stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
