After the Storm vs Inkwell paint color comparison

After the Storm vs Inkwell

Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (3 vs 4), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 3.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

After the Storm vs Inkwell in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. After the Storm and Inkwell 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.

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. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

After the StormSW After the Storm dining room interior

@michele.elizabeth.designs

InkwellSherwin Williams Inkwell Living Room

@nnnikkiii

Front Door

A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

After the StormSW After the Storm front door color

@ginageorgedesigns

InkwellSw Inkwell Door

@brickhousereno

Color Details

After the Storm
Sherwin-Williams · 9685
LRV2.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9685
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Inkwell
Sherwin-Williams · 6992
LRV3.6
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6992
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

After the Storm vs Inkwell Simulated Comparison

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