Downing Slate vs Rain Cloud
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Downing Slate (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than Rain Cloud (LRV 11), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Downing Slate runs neutral while Rain Cloud is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 12.8, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Downing Slate vs Rain Cloud in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Downing Slate and Rain Cloud in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Downing Slate will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rain Cloud would.
Color Details
Downing Slate vs Rain Cloud Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Slate on one side and Rain 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 Downing Slate comparisons
See how Downing Slate stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
