Old Salem Gray
HC-94 · #A49A79 · LRV 32 — warm yellow tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Anonymous20
- 2Bison Beige27
- 3Old Salem Gray32
- 4Revere Pewter55
- 5Agreeable Gray60
What Color Is Old Salem Gray, Really?
Old Salem Gray reads as a warm yellow tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore HC-94 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Old Salem Gray
Old Salem Gray is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
How Lighting Changes Old Salem Gray
Old Salem Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 32, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its yellow 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 Old Salem 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 HC-94 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 | Colonial Revival Green StoneSW 2826 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.4 | 33 | Color page → |
| Behr | Dried ChiveS330-5 · Behr | 2.1 | 32 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Dusty Olive6005-4A · Valspar | 2.1 | 34 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Bear HugPPG1101-5 · PPG / Glidden | 4.0 | 33 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Olive Twig45YY 32/211 · Glidden | 1.9 | 32 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Open SesameDEBN54 · Dunn-Edwards | 3.5 | 32 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Old Salem 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 #A49A79 in HSL space. Pair Old Salem Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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