Before the Storm vs Naval
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Before the Storm reads as grey, while Naval reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 18 vs 4, Before the Storm will read as the brighter of the two — a 14-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Before the Storm's neutral character against Naval's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 26.3, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Before the Storm vs Naval in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Before the Storm and Naval 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Before the Storm returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Before the Storm will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Naval would.
Color Details
Before the Storm vs Naval Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Before the Storm on one side and Naval 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 Before the Storm comparisons
See how Before the Storm stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 18, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
Before the Storm reflects far more light (LRV 18 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 18, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 18, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 18, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 18, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
Before the Storm reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 18, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (21 vs 18) makes Artichoke the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 18, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Before the Storm reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Before the Storm reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 18, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Before the Storm reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 18, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (18 vs 7) makes Before the Storm the marginally brighter of the two.