Pearl dark grey vs Before the Storm
Pearl dark grey (RAL Classic) and Before the Storm (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. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 20 vs 18 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 2.8 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Pearl dark grey vs Before the Storm Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pearl dark grey 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 Pearl dark grey comparisons
See how Pearl dark grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 20, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 20 vs 6, Pearl dark grey is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 20), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 20, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 20, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (27 vs 20) makes Denim Drift the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
Pearl dark grey reflects far more light (LRV 20 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 20, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (20 vs 13) makes Pearl dark grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 20, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
With LRVs of 21 and 20, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 66 vs 20, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 20, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 20, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (20 vs 12) makes Pearl dark grey the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (20 vs 8) makes Pearl dark grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 20, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 20), opening up a space where Pearl dark grey encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (20 vs 12) makes Pearl dark grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 20, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 20), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.