Rain vs Rarified Air
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Rain reads as blue-grey, while Rarified Air reads as blue-white — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 78 vs 49, Rarified Air will read as the brighter of the two — a 29-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a cool quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 16.1, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Rain vs Rarified Air in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Rain and Rarified Air in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Rarified Air will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rain would.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Rarified Air will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rain would.
Color Details
Rain vs Rarified Air Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Rain on one side and Rarified Air 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.