After the Storm vs Downy paint color comparison

After the Storm vs Downy

After the StormSherwin-WilliamsvsDownySherwin-WilliamsΔE 73.6 — Very different colors

Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. After the Storm reads as blue-grey, while Downy reads as beige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Downy (LRV 81) reflects noticeably more light than After the Storm (LRV 3), a difference of 78 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. After the Storm runs cool while Downy is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 73.6, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

After the Storm vs Downy in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. Seeing After the Storm and Downy 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

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 Downy will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than After the Storm would.

After the StormSW After the Storm dining room interior

@michele.elizabeth.designs

DownySw 7002 Living Room Fireplace

@jducedesign

Color Details

After the Storm
Sherwin-Williams · 9685
LRV2.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9685
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Downy
Sherwin-Williams · 7002
LRV81.2
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7002
Undertone—
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight

After the Storm vs Downy Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see After the Storm on one side and Downy on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Storm comparisons

See how After the Storm stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

After the Storm
After the Storm
Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray
After the Storm vs Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
After the Storm
9685 · LRV 3

Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 3), opening up a space where After the Storm encloses it.

After the Storm
After the Storm
Naval
Naval
After the Storm vs Naval
Sherwin-Williams
After the Storm
9685 · LRV 3
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

With LRVs of 4 and 3, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

After the Storm
After the Storm
Shoji White
Shoji White
After the Storm vs Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
After the Storm
9685 · LRV 3

At LRV 74 vs 3, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.

After the Storm
After the Storm
Snowbound
Snowbound
After the Storm vs Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
After the Storm
9685 · LRV 3
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

At LRV 83 vs 3, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.