Gamboge
CW-285 · #E6B271 · LRV 49 — warm red-orange tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Caramelized35
- 2Venetian Plaster42
- 3Gamboge49
- 4Colonial Yellow59
- 5Belvedere Cream65
What Color Is Gamboge, Really?
Gamboge reads as a warm red-orange tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore CW-285 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Gamboge
Gamboge is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Earthy oranges and terracottas warm up dining rooms and entries.
How Lighting Changes Gamboge
Gamboge sits in the mid-range at LRV 49, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about Gamboge 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 CW-285 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 | TorchlightSW 6374 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.2 | 48 | Color page → |
| Behr | Pyramid GoldPPU6-04 · Behr | 0.7 | 51 | Color page → |
| Valspar | South HavenM140 · Valspar | 1.2 | 52.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Bold ButterscotchPPG12-08 · PPG / Glidden | 1.6 | 51 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Bold ButterscotchPPG12-08 · Glidden | 1.6 | 51 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Sundancer215-4DB · Dutch Boy | 1.4 | 48 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Gamboge 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 #E6B271 in HSL space. Pair Gamboge with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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