Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Before the Storm |
| SKU | SW 9564 |
| Hex | #74777A |
| RGB | 116, 119, 122 |
| HSL | 210°, 3%, 47% |
| LRV | 18 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Before the Storm
With an LRV of 18, Before the Storm is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Before the Storm works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Diamond Vogel
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Dutch Boy
Clare
Farrow & Ball
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Before 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 #74777A in HSL space. Pair Before 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 Before the Storm Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Before 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 9564 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Before the Storm
Behr's nearest match is Complex Gray (N140-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.12). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Before the Storm without repainting risk. See the full Complex Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Before the Storm
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Dark Gray (DEGR60), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.85). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Before the Storm without repainting risk. See the full Dark Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Before the Storm
At Valspar, the closest color to Before the Storm is Deco Gray (8006-7D) — very close at ΔE 2.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deco Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Before the Storm
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Before the Storm is Volcanic Ash (PPG1012-6) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Volcanic Ash swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Before the Storm
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Before the Storm is Backwater (0513) — very close at ΔE 2.73, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Backwater swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Before the Storm
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Before the Storm is Eclipse (2132-40) — very close at ΔE 2.75, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Eclipse swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Before the Storm
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Before the Storm is Stomp (C2-983) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stomp swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Before the Storm
At Kompozit, the closest color to Before the Storm is Ocean Frigate (0555) — very close at ΔE 3.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Frigate swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Before the Storm
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Before the Storm. The nearest is Cliffside Gray (437-5DB) at ΔE 3.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cliffside Gray swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Before the Storm
Clare has no exact twin of Before the Storm. The nearest is Irony (PNT100-MD-16) at ΔE 3.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Irony swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Before the Storm
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Before the Storm — the nearest deck color, De Nimes (NO. 299), is clearly different (ΔE 6.57). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9564 instead. See the full De Nimes swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Before the Storm
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Before the Storm — the nearest deck color, Luxe (JG-10), is clearly different (ΔE 9.14). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9564 instead. See the full Luxe swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Before the Storm
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Before the Storm — the nearest deck color, Hartford (BD-HF), is clearly different (ΔE 9.86). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9564 instead. See the full Hartford swatch →