After the Rain vs Surfin'
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. After the Rain (LRV 49) reflects noticeably more light than Surfin' (LRV 46), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 6.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
After the Rain vs Surfin' in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. After the Rain and Surfin' 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.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. After the Rain reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
After the Rain vs Surfin' Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see After the Rain on one side and Surfin' 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 After the Rain comparisons
See how After the Rain stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 49), opening up a space where After the Rain encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 49, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
After the Rain reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 52 vs 49), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 49 vs 30, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 52 and 49, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 11-point LRV gap (60 vs 49) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 49), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
After the Rain reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (49 vs 43) makes After the Rain the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 49 vs 4, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 49), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
After the Rain reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
After the Rain reads slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 49, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 21, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 49), opening up a space where After the Rain encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 49), opening up a space where After the Rain encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 49), opening up a space where After the Rain encloses it.
After the Rain reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 49), opening up a space where After the Rain encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (49 vs 41) makes After the Rain the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 49, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 25, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
After the Rain reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
After the Rain reads slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 49 vs 31, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 7, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 24, After the Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (57 vs 49) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.