Alloy vs Thunder Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Alloy (LRV 25) reflects noticeably more light than Thunder Gray (LRV 9), a difference of 17 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 22.1, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Alloy vs Thunder Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Alloy and Thunder Gray 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 Alloy will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thunder Gray would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Alloy reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thunder Gray.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Alloy reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thunder Gray.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Alloy reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thunder Gray.
Color Details
Alloy vs Thunder Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alloy on one side and Thunder Gray 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.