Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Approaching Storm |
| SKU | CSP-535 |
| Hex | #4B4A5C |
| RGB | 75, 74, 92 |
| HSL | 243°, 11%, 33% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Benjamin Moore 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.
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.
Closest matches by brand
13 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all blue from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe 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.
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.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Benjamin Moore Approaching Storm Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Approaching Storm from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Benjamin Moore CSP-535 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Quixotic Plum (SW 6265) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 6 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Quixotic Plum swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At Behr, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Virtuoso (N570-6) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Virtuoso swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Black Flame (PPG1043-7) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Flame swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At Glidden, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Black Flame (PPG1043-7) — very close at ΔE 2.81, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Flame swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Approaching Storm
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Approaching Storm. The nearest is Sliced Eggplant (345-6DB) at ΔE 3.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sliced Eggplant swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Oceanic Trench (HGSW 3391) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 6 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Oceanic Trench swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Approaching Storm
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Approaching Storm. The nearest is Deep Mystery (DE5923) at ΔE 3.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Deep Mystery swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Bible Black (NO. 225) — very close at ΔE 2.2, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 6 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bible Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Midnight Iris (H055) — very close at ΔE 2.97, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Midnight Iris swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Approaching Storm
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Approaching Storm. The nearest is China Aster (H0055) at ΔE 4.31 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full China Aster swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Approaching Storm
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Approaching Storm is Voodoo (C2-789) — very close at ΔE 3.39, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Voodoo swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Approaching Storm
Backdrop has no exact twin of Approaching Storm. The nearest is Last Call (BD-LC) at ΔE 3.71 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 6 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Last Call swatch →