Before the Storm vs Storm Cloud
Before the Storm and Storm Cloud come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Before the Storm belongs to the grey family and Storm Cloud to the blue-grey family. The 4-point LRV gap — 23 for Storm Cloud vs 18 for Before the Storm — means Storm Cloud will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 6.4 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. 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 Storm Cloud in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Before the Storm and Storm Cloud 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Storm Cloud reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Storm Cloud has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Before the Storm vs Storm Cloud Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Before the Storm on one side and Storm Cloud 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.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Before the Storm encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 18, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
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.
At LRV 18 vs 4, Before the Storm 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.
Before the Storm reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), 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.
At LRV 68 vs 18, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (25 vs 18) makes Treron the marginally brighter of the two.
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.
A 6-point LRV gap (24 vs 18) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 18, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.