Before the Storm vs Outerspace
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Before the Storm belongs to the grey family and Outerspace to the blue-grey family. Before the Storm (LRV 18) reflects noticeably more light than Outerspace (LRV 12), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Before the Storm runs neutral while Outerspace is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 9.9 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.
Before the Storm vs Outerspace in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Before the Storm and Outerspace 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. The brightness difference is modest but present — Before the Storm gives the walls a little more lift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Before the Storm reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Before the Storm vs Outerspace Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Before the Storm on one side and Outerspace 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.
