Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | After the Storm |
| SKU | SW 9685 |
| Hex | #2A3037 |
| RGB | 42, 48, 55 |
| HSL | 212°, 13%, 19% |
| LRV | 3 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Black |
About Sherwin-Williams After the Storm
At LRV 3, After the 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.
After the 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. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
Closest matches by brand
10 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 black from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Hirshfield's
Portola Paints
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to After the Storm within Sherwin-Williams'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 #2A3037 in HSL space. Pair After the 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.
Sherwin-Williams After the Storm Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching After the 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 9685 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of After the Storm
Behr has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is Deep Space (750F-7) at ΔE 3.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Deep Space swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of After the Storm
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is Black (2132-10) at ΔE 4.38 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of After the Storm
The closest Valspar equivalent of After the Storm is Deep Space Echo (T691). At ΔE 0.73 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 2.8 vs 3). If Valspar is your counter, order Deep Space Echo and you'll get the same color. See the full Deep Space Echo swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of After the Storm
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is True Black (438-7DB) at ΔE 4.34 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full True Black swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of After the Storm
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is Tricorn Black (HGSW 1441) at ΔE 4.34 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tricorn Black swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of After the Storm
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to After the Storm is Blackboard (JG-05) — very close at ΔE 2.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackboard swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of After the Storm
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is Silent Sea (0515) at ΔE 4.26 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of After the Storm
At Portola Paints, the closest color to After the Storm is Story Teller (STORY TELLER) — very close at ΔE 3.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Story Teller swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of After the Storm
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is Charcoal (285144) at ΔE 4.33 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of After the Storm
Kompozit has no exact twin of After the Storm. The nearest is Silent Sea (0515) at ΔE 4.26 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silent Sea swatch →