Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Secret Journal |
| SKU | MQ1-57 |
| Hex | #7D6159 |
| RGB | 125, 97, 89 |
| HSL | 13°, 17%, 42% |
| LRV | 14 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Behr Secret Journal
With an LRV of 14, Secret Journal is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its red 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Secret Journal works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches by brand
12 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Secret Journal 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 #7D6159 in HSL space. Pair Secret Journal 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 Secret Journal Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Secret Journal 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 MQ1-57 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Secret Journal
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Hot Cocoa (SW 6047), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.54). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Secret Journal without repainting risk. See the full Hot Cocoa swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Secret Journal
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Secret Journal is Cowboy Boots (1015) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cowboy Boots swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Secret Journal
Valspar's nearest match is Marron (1004-9B), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13.4 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Secret Journal without repainting risk. See the full Marron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Secret Journal
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Secret Journal. The nearest is Poppy Pods (PPG1075-6) at ΔE 4.62 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Poppy Pods swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Secret Journal
Glidden's nearest match is Spicewood Brown (50YR 13/139), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.54). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Secret Journal without repainting risk. See the full Spicewood Brown swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Secret Journal
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Secret Journal is Gridlock (404-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gridlock swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Secret Journal
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Cocoa Island (HGSW 3032), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.54). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Secret Journal without repainting risk. See the full Cocoa Island swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Secret Journal
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Secret Journal is Raisin in the Sun (DE6034) — very close at ΔE 2.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Raisin in the Sun swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Secret Journal
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Amazon Mist (0136), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Secret Journal without repainting risk. See the full Amazon Mist swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Secret Journal
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Secret Journal is Terra Firma (C2-598) — very close at ΔE 2.55, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 12 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Terra Firma swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Secret Journal
Kompozit's nearest match is Amazon Mist (0136), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Secret Journal without repainting risk. See the full Amazon Mist swatch →