Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Dark Shadows |
| SKU | MQ5-02 |
| Hex | #5B595D |
| RGB | 91, 89, 93 |
| HSL | 270°, 2%, 36% |
| LRV | 10 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Dark Shadows
With an LRV of 10, Dark Shadows is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Dark Shadows 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.
Closest matches by brand
16 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
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Dark Shadows 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 #5B595D in HSL space. Pair Dark Shadows 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 Dark Shadows Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Dark Shadows 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 MQ5-02 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Midnight (SW 6264) — very close at ΔE 3.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Midnight swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Ambler Slate (CW-685) — very close at ΔE 3.41, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ambler Slate swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At Valspar, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Forge (8004-48F) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Forge swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Zombie (PPG1010-7) — very close at ΔE 3.4, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zombie swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At Glidden, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Zombie (PPG1010-7) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zombie swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Smoky Purple (343-7DB) — very close at ΔE 3.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoky Purple swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Shadow Hue (HGSW 3392) — very close at ΔE 3.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shadow Hue swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Shou Sugi Ban (DEGR48) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shou Sugi Ban swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Dark Shadows
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Dark Shadows. The nearest is Conservatory (JG-158) at ΔE 4.97 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Conservatory swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Dark Shadows
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Dark Shadows. The nearest is Beetle Black (NO. G16) at ΔE 4.45 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Beetle Black swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Dark Shadows
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Dark Shadows. The nearest is Smokescreen (0556) at ΔE 4.06 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Smokescreen swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Dark Shadows
Rodda's nearest match is Violaceous (R106), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.42). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Shadows without repainting risk. See the full Violaceous swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Dark Shadows
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Dark Shadows is Jabberwocky (C2-885) — very close at ΔE 3.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jabberwocky swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Dark Shadows
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Dark Shadows. The nearest is In The Navy (IN THE NAVY) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In The Navy swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Dark Shadows
Kompozit has no exact twin of Dark Shadows. The nearest is Smokescreen (0556) at ΔE 4.06 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Smokescreen swatch →