Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Contessa |
| SKU | UL250-6 |
| Hex | #968B91 |
| RGB | 150, 139, 145 |
| HSL | 327°, 5%, 57% |
| LRV | 27 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Contessa
Contessa sits in the mid-range at LRV 27, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Contessa is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
14 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Contessa 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 #968B91 in HSL space. Pair Contessa 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 Contessa Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Contessa 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 UL250-6 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Contessa
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Contessa is Gris Morado (SW 9156) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gris Morado swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Contessa
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Contessa is Sleepy Hollow (1454). At ΔE 0.95 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm magenta undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Sleepy Hollow and you'll get the same color. See the full Sleepy Hollow swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Contessa
At Valspar, the closest color to Contessa is Sunrise Over Tahiti (8004-2D) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sunrise Over Tahiti swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Contessa
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Contessa. The nearest is Shining Armor (PPG1003-5) at ΔE 4.17 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shining Armor swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Contessa
Glidden's nearest match is Greyed Rose Quartz (50RR 27/033), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.16). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Contessa without repainting risk. See the full Greyed Rose Quartz swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Contessa
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Castle Wood (445-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.63). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Contessa without repainting risk. See the full Castle Wood swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Contessa
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Contessa is Great Greige (HGSW 3394) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Great Greige swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Contessa
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Contessa is Ashen Plum (DE6396) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ashen Plum swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Contessa
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Contessa. The nearest is Iced Orchid (1304) at ΔE 3.76 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Iced Orchid swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Contessa
Rodda has no exact twin of Contessa. The nearest is Reimagined (R116) at ΔE 4.25 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Reimagined swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Contessa
Portola Paints's nearest match is Voodoo (VOODOO), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Contessa without repainting risk. See the full Voodoo swatch →