Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | African Violet |
| SKU | 2116-50 |
| Hex | #C1B9C4 |
| RGB | 193, 185, 196 |
| HSL | 284°, 9%, 75% |
| LRV | 51 |
| Undertone | cool violet tone |
| Family | Purple |
About Benjamin Moore African Violet
At LRV 51, African Violet is a light color that bounces daylight around a room without tipping into stark white. Its violet 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. It holds its undertone in most exposures, which is what makes light shades like this so forgiving room to room.
African Violet is an easy whole-room color for living spaces and bedrooms, and light enough to carry onto trim or a ceiling if you want a soft, seamless look. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
Closest matches by brand
15 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 purple from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to African Violet within Benjamin Moore'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 #C1B9C4 in HSL space. Pair African Violet 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.
Benjamin Moore African Violet Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching African Violet 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 Benjamin Moore 2116-50 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of African Violet
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Mauve Finery (SW 6282) at ΔE 4.4 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 51 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mauve Finery swatch →
Behr Equivalent of African Violet
The closest Behr equivalent of African Violet is Aster (PPU16-09). At ΔE 0.88 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool violet undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 49 vs 51). If Behr is your counter, order Aster and you'll get the same color. See the full Aster swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of African Violet
At Valspar, the closest color to African Violet is Sun Painter (8004-2C) — very close at ΔE 3.04, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 49 vs 51) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sun Painter swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of African Violet
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to African Violet is Silverberry (PPG1173-4) — very close at ΔE 2.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 51 vs 51) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silverberry swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of African Violet
At Glidden, the closest color to African Violet is Silverberry (PPG1173-4) — very close at ΔE 2.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 51 vs 51) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silverberry swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of African Violet
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Purple Shimmer (243-2DB) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 50 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Purple Shimmer swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of African Violet
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Furtive Mauve (HGSW 2436) at ΔE 4.4 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 51 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Furtive Mauve swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of African Violet
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Winter Dusk (DE5933) at ΔE 4.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs noticeably darker (LRV 45 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Winter Dusk swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of African Violet
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Collensia (1281) at ΔE 3.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 51 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Collensia swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of African Violet
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Savoy (1316) at ΔE 3.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Savoy swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of African Violet
Rodda has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Hue is the Artist? (R115) at ΔE 3.77 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 48 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hue is the Artist? swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of African Violet
At C2 Paint, the closest color to African Violet is Bella Donna (C2-782) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 47 vs 51) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bella Donna swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of African Violet
At Portola Paints, the closest color to African Violet is Magic Potion (MAGIC POTION) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 47 vs 51) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Magic Potion swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of African Violet
Kompozit has no exact twin of African Violet. The nearest is Savoy (1316) at ΔE 3.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 51 vs 51). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Savoy swatch →