Imperial Gray vs Thunder Clouds
Imperial Gray (Behr) and Thunder Clouds (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. The 3-point LRV gap — 17 for Thunder Clouds vs 14 for Imperial Gray — means Thunder Clouds will open up a space more effectively. Where Imperial Gray leans blue, Thunder Clouds reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 0.6 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Imperial Gray vs Thunder Clouds in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Imperial Gray and Thunder Clouds are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.
Color Details
Imperial Gray vs Thunder Clouds Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Imperial Gray on one side and Thunder Clouds on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Imperial Gray comparisons
See how Imperial Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 14, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (14 vs 6) makes Imperial Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 14, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 14, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 14, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Imperial Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 14, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 44 vs 14, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Artichoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 14), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 14, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 14, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 14, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 6-point LRV gap (14 vs 8) makes Imperial Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 14, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 45 vs 14, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 14), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.