Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Instant Classic |
| SKU | MQ1-34 |
| Hex | #554C4D |
| RGB | 85, 76, 77 |
| HSL | 353°, 6%, 32% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Instant Classic
At LRV 8, Instant Classic is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Instant Classic earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
13 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
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Instant Classic 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 #554C4D in HSL space. Pair Instant Classic 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 Instant Classic Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Instant Classic 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 MQ1-34 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Instant Classic
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Instant Classic. The nearest is Perle Noir (SW 9154) at ΔE 3.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Perle Noir swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Instant Classic
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Instant Classic. The nearest is Willow (CC-542) at ΔE 4.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Willow swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Instant Classic
Valspar's nearest match is Bittersweet Molasses (8005-12G), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Instant Classic without repainting risk. See the full Bittersweet Molasses swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Instant Classic
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Instant Classic is Black Walnut (PPG1014-7) — very close at ΔE 2.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Walnut swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Instant Classic
At Glidden, the closest color to Instant Classic is Deep Raspberry Shadow (50RR 08/053) — very close at ΔE 2.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Raspberry Shadow swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Instant Classic
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Instant Classic is Samson Bronze (DEB005) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Samson Bronze swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Instant Classic
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Instant Classic is Cut Cedar (JG-131) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cut Cedar swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Instant Classic
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Instant Classic is Tanner's Brown (NO. 255) — very close at ΔE 2.54, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tanner's Brown swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Instant Classic
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Instant Classic is Evermore (0557) — very close at ΔE 2.68, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Evermore swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Instant Classic
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Instant Classic is Enamored (C2-853) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Enamored swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Instant Classic
Clare has no exact twin of Instant Classic. The nearest is Blackest (PNT100-DP-55) at ΔE 4.42 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackest swatch →