Porpoise vs Thunderous
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Porpoise belongs to the greige-grey family and Thunderous to the grey family. With LRVs of 13 and 15, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Porpoise's warm character against Thunderous's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 3.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Porpoise vs Thunderous in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Porpoise and Thunderous 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Thunderous reads more restrained here, while Porpoise adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The temperature contrast between Porpoise and Thunderous is what sets these apart most in this context.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The temperature contrast between Porpoise and Thunderous is what sets these apart most in this context.
Home Office
In a home office, wall color sits in your peripheral vision for hours at a time, so temperature and undertone matter more than you might expect. The temperature contrast between Porpoise and Thunderous is what sets these apart most in this context.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The temperature contrast between Porpoise and Thunderous is what sets these apart most in this context.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Thunderous reads more restrained here, while Porpoise adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Porpoise vs Thunderous Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Porpoise on one side and Thunderous 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 Porpoise comparisons
See how Porpoise stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.




















































