After the Storm
SW 9685 · #2A3037 · LRV 3 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1After the Storm3
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What Color Is After the Storm, Really?
After the Storm reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 9685 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for After the Storm
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.
How Lighting Changes 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.
Most complaints about After the 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 9685 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Deep Space750F-7 · Behr | 3.7 | 3 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Black2132-10 · Benjamin Moore | 4.4 | 5 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Deep Space EchoT691 · Valspar | 0.7 | 2.8 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | True Black438-7DB · Dutch Boy | 4.3 | 3 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Tricorn BlackHGSW 1441 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 4.3 | 3 | Color page → |
| Magnolia Home | BlackboardJG-05 · Magnolia Home | 2.1 | 3 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The 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.
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 #2A3037 in HSL space. Pair After the Storm with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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