Before the Storm vs Thames Fog
Before the Storm (Sherwin-Williams) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 9-point LRV gap — 27 for Thames Fog vs 18 for Before the Storm — means Thames Fog will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 13.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. 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 Thames Fog in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Before the Storm and Thames Fog 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
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. Thames Fog reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Before the Storm.
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. Thames Fog returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Before the Storm vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Before the Storm on one side and Thames Fog 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.
