Gray Owl
BNC-37 · #646C62 · LRV 14 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Black Emerald1
- 2Essex Green6
- 3Gray Owl14
- 4Sage Green22
- 5Evergreen Fog30
What Color Is Gray Owl, Really?
Gray Owl reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr BNC-37 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Gray Owl
Gray Owl works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greens bridge indoors and out, so they suit living rooms, kitchens and sunrooms.
How Lighting Changes Gray Owl
With an LRV of 14, Gray Owl 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 Gray Owl 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 BNC-37 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 | SucculentSW 9650 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.6 | 14 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Rainy Afternoon1575 · Benjamin Moore | 0.6 | 15 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Puddle JumperT606 · Valspar | 2.1 | 15.3 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Gunmetal GrayPPG1033-6 · PPG / Glidden | 0.7 | 15 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Gunmetal GrayPPG1033-6 · Glidden | 1.0 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Antiquated Olive424-6DB · Dutch Boy | 2.1 | 14 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Gray Owl 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 #646C62 in HSL space. Pair Gray Owl with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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