Cloudburst vs Crimson Red
Cloudburst and Crimson Red come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Cloudburst belongs to the blue family and Crimson Red to the pink-red family. The 22-point LRV gap — 26 for Cloudburst vs 4 for Crimson Red — means Cloudburst will open up a space more effectively. Where Cloudburst leans cool, Crimson Red reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 70.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cloudburst vs Crimson Red in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cloudburst and Crimson Red 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. Cloudburst reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Crimson Red.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Cloudburst returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Cloudburst returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Cloudburst reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Crimson Red.
Color Details
Cloudburst vs Crimson Red Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cloudburst on one side and Crimson Red 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.