Crisp Romaine
686 · #445851 · LRV 9 — cool green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Rookwood Shutter Green4
- 2Crisp Romaine9
- 3Sage Green22
- 4Evergreen Fog30
What Color Is Crisp Romaine, Really?
Crisp Romaine reads as a cool green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 686 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Crisp Romaine
Crisp Romaine earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Greens bridge indoors and out, so they suit living rooms, kitchens and sunrooms.
How Lighting Changes Crisp Romaine
At LRV 9, Crisp Romaine 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. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Crisp Romaine 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 686 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 | Billiard GreenSW 16 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.0 | 9 | Color page → |
| Behr | ConiferECC-45-3 · Behr | 2.8 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Canadian Fir5004-4C · Valspar | 2.0 | 9.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Midnight CloverPPG1138-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.4 | 8 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Deep Forest Pine30GG 09/106 · Glidden | 1.4 | 9 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Minnesota Pines328-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.8 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Crisp Romaine 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 #445851 in HSL space. Pair Crisp Romaine with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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