Boreal Forest
AF-480 · #535F4E · LRV 11 — cool green tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Black Emerald1
- 2Essex Green6
- 3Boreal Forest11
- 4Sage Green22
- 5Evergreen Fog30
What Color Is Boreal Forest, Really?
Boreal Forest reads as a cool green tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore AF-480 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Boreal Forest
Boreal Forest 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 Boreal Forest
With an LRV of 11, Boreal Forest is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its green 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.
Most complaints about Boreal Forest 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 Benjamin Moore AF-480 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 | Rookwood Dark GreenSW 2816 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.8 | 10 | Color page → |
| Behr | Whispering OaksECC-11-3 · Behr | 1.1 | 11 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Haute GreenV097-6 · Valspar | 2.0 | 9.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Grape LeavesPPG1124-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.8 | 11 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Grape LeavesPPG1124-7 · Glidden | 2.7 | 11 | Color page → |
| Magnolia Home | Regal LeafJG-72 · Magnolia Home | 3.3 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Boreal Forest within Benjamin Moore'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 #535F4E in HSL space. Pair Boreal Forest with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Boreal Forest?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question