French Lilac
PPU16-10 · #BDB8BB · LRV 49 — neutral with no strong undertone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
What Color Is French Lilac, Really?
French Lilac reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Behr PPU16-10 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for French Lilac
French Lilac 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.
How Lighting Changes French Lilac
French Lilac sits in the mid-range at LRV 49, 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.
Most complaints about French Lilac 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 PPU16-10 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 | Fashionable GraySW 6275 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.6 | 48 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | After the Rain1452 · Benjamin Moore | 1.6 | 50 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Sun Painter8004-2C · Valspar | 3.4 | 49 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | LuxuriousPPG18-04 · PPG / Glidden | 3.1 | 49 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Pigeon FeatherPPG0995-4 · Glidden | 4.3 | 48 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Heaven SentHGSW 3376 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 1.6 | 48 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to French Lilac 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 #BDB8BB in HSL space. Pair French Lilac with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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