Bitter Briar
720B-5 · #806C74 · LRV 17 — warm magenta tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Nocturne Shade5
- 2Ripe Berry10
- 3Bitter Briar17
- 4Gothic Purple24
- 5Hazy Lilac29
What Color Is Bitter Briar, Really?
Bitter Briar reads as a warm magenta tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr 720B-5 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Bitter Briar
Bitter Briar works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
How Lighting Changes Bitter Briar
With an LRV of 17, Bitter Briar is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its magenta 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Bitter Briar 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 Behr 720B-5 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Patchwork PlumSW 22 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.6 | 16 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Bonne NuitAF-635 · Benjamin Moore | 1.3 | 17 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Simple Plum1001-7B · Valspar | 1.9 | 16.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Purple DuskPPG13-19 · PPG / Glidden | 2.0 | 16 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Velvet SlipperPPG1046-6 · Glidden | 1.8 | 17 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | My Devoted446-5DB · Dutch Boy | 3.9 | 17 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Bitter Briar within Behr'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 #806C74 in HSL space. Pair Bitter Briar with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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