Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Cardamom |
| SKU | PMD-51 |
| Hex | #AB8565 |
| RGB | 171, 133, 101 |
| HSL | 27°, 29%, 53% |
| LRV | 26 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Brown |
About Behr Cardamom
Cardamom sits in the mid-range at LRV 26, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Cardamom is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Diamond Vogel
Dunn-Edwards
Valspar
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Dutch Boy
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
Clare
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Cardamom within Behr'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 #AB8565 in HSL space. Pair Cardamom 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.
Behr Cardamom Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Cardamom 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 Behr PMD-51 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Cardamom
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Almond Roca (SW 9105), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardamom without repainting risk. See the full Almond Roca swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Cardamom
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Chowning's Tan (CW-195), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardamom without repainting risk. See the full Chowning's Tan swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Cardamom
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Veldrift (0164), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.61). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardamom without repainting risk. See the full Veldrift swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Cardamom
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Cardamom is Bronco Brown (PPG15-03) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bronco Brown swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Cardamom
At Kompozit, the closest color to Cardamom is Spiced Rum (0240) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 28 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Spiced Rum swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Cardamom
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Cardamom is Dark Sepia (DE6138) — very close at ΔE 2.53, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Sepia swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Cardamom
At Valspar, the closest color to Cardamom is River Oak (3004-9C) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27.1 vs 26) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full River Oak swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Cardamom
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Cardamom. The nearest is Vintage Crown (JG-152) at ΔE 3.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 26). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Vintage Crown swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Cardamom
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Cardamom. The nearest is Doubloon (C2-632) at ΔE 3.82 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 26). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Doubloon swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Cardamom
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Cardamom. The nearest is Muddy Paws (216-5DB) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 26). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Muddy Paws swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Cardamom
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardamom — the nearest deck color, Drab (NO. 41), is clearly different (ΔE 8.34). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Behr PMD-51 instead. See the full Drab swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Cardamom
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardamom — the nearest deck color, Anita (BD-AN), is clearly different (ΔE 9.54). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Behr PMD-51 instead. See the full Anita swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Cardamom
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardamom — the nearest deck color, Dirty Chai (PNT100-DP-52), is clearly different (ΔE 12.25). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Behr PMD-51 instead. See the full Dirty Chai swatch →