Millstone Gray
1581 · #6A716A · LRV 16 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Urbane Bronze8
- 2Millstone Gray16
- 3Retreat21
- 4Stardew43
What Color Is Millstone Gray, Really?
Millstone Gray reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 1581 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Millstone Gray
Millstone Gray works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Millstone Gray
With an LRV of 16, Millstone Gray is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Millstone Gray 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 1581 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 | Homburg GraySW 7622 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.1 | 15 | Color page → |
| Behr | Laurel OakECC-41-3 · Behr | 2.1 | 16 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Sea GroveT698 · Valspar | 1.9 | 15.3 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Up In SmokePPG1010-6 · PPG / Glidden | 3.2 | 16 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Up In SmokePPG1010-6 · Glidden | 3.6 | 16 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Earthy Green425-6DB · Dutch Boy | 2.1 | 17 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Millstone Gray 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 #6A716A in HSL space. Pair Millstone Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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