Behr Elemental Tan#C8B59C · LRV 48
Elemental Tan reads as a red-orange / warm — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the spec, what Behr MQ2-21 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Elemental Tan |
| SKU | MQ2-21 |
| Hex | #C8B59C |
| RGB | 200, 181, 156 |
| HSL | 34°, 29%, 70% |
| LRV | 48 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Neutral |
About Behr Elemental Tan
Elemental Tan sits in the mid-range at LRV 48, 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.
Elemental Tan is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 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 neutral from that brand.
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Elemental Tan 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 #C8B59C in HSL space. Pair Elemental Tan 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.