Complex Gray
N140-5 · #847975 · LRV 20 — warm red tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Black Fox7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Complex Gray20
- 4Stardew43
- 5Quietude48
What Color Is Complex Gray, Really?
Complex Gray reads as a warm red tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr N140-5 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Complex Gray
Complex Gray 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.
How Lighting Changes Complex Gray
With an LRV of 20, Complex Gray is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its red 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 Complex Gray 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 N140-5 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 | ChinchillaSW 6011 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.7 | 20 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | GraniteAF-660 · Benjamin Moore | 3.1 | 21 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Mountain Smoke6004-2B · Valspar | 4.5 | 20.2 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Cool CharcoalPPG1007-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.6 | 20 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Cool CharcoalPPG1007-6 · Glidden | 3.4 | 20 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Weathered Plum403-5DB · Dutch Boy | 1.7 | 20 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Complex Gray 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 #847975 in HSL space. Pair Complex Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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