Dark Shadows
MQ5-02 · #5B595D · LRV 10 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Fired Bronze5
- 2Dark Shadows10
- 3Kendall Charcoal15
- 4Retreat21
What Color Is Dark Shadows, Really?
Dark Shadows reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr MQ5-02 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Dark Shadows
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.
How Lighting Changes 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.
Most complaints about Dark Shadows 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 MQ5-02 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 | MidnightSW 6264 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.1 | 10 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Ambler SlateCW-685 · Benjamin Moore | 3.4 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Forge8004-48F · Valspar | 3.4 | 11 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | ZombiePPG1010-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.4 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | ZombiePPG1010-7 · Glidden | 2.4 | 10 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Smoky Purple343-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.1 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The 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.
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 #5B595D in HSL space. Pair Dark Shadows with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Dark Shadows?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question