Approaching Storm
CSP-535 · #4B4A5C · LRV 9 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Naval4
- 2Approaching Storm9
- 3Smoky Blue15
- 4Wolf Gray21
What Color Is Approaching Storm, Really?
Approaching Storm reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore CSP-535 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Approaching Storm
Approaching Storm earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Approaching Storm
At LRV 9, Approaching Storm is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its blue undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Approaching Storm are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore CSP-535 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Quixotic PlumSW 6265 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.8 | 6 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Black FlamePPG1043-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.5 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Black FlamePPG1043-7 · Glidden | 2.8 | 7 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Sliced Eggplant345-6DB · Dutch Boy | 3.9 | 8 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Oceanic TrenchHGSW 3391 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 2.8 | 6 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Deep MysteryDE5923 · Dunn-Edwards | 3.6 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Approaching Storm within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #4B4A5C in HSL space. Pair Approaching Storm with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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