Blustery Sky vs Downing Slate
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (22 vs 21), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. Blustery Sky runs cool while Downing Slate is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 4.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Blustery Sky vs Downing Slate in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Blustery Sky and Downing Slate 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 temperature contrast between Downing Slate and Blustery Sky is what sets these apart most in this context.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Downing Slate brings more warmth to the space, while Blustery Sky keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Downing Slate brings more warmth to the space, while Blustery Sky keeps things cooler and crisper.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Downing Slate brings more warmth to the space, while Blustery Sky keeps things cooler and crisper.
Color Details
Blustery Sky vs Downing Slate Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Blustery Sky on one side and Downing Slate 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.