Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Pensive |
| SKU | AF-140 |
| Hex | #BDAA95 |
| RGB | 189, 170, 149 |
| HSL | 31°, 23%, 66% |
| LRV | 42 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Benjamin Moore Pensive
Pensive sits in the mid-range at LRV 42, 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.
Pensive 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.
Closest matches by brand
16 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all neutral from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Pensive within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #BDAA95 in HSL space. Pair Pensive with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Benjamin Moore Pensive Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Pensive from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Benjamin Moore AF-140 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Pensive
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Portico (SW 7548), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full Portico swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Pensive
At Behr, the closest color to Pensive is Nile Sand (UL170-19) — very close at ΔE 3.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nile Sand swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Pensive
At Valspar, the closest color to Pensive is Ivory Brown (6006-1C) — very close at ΔE 2.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42.2 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ivory Brown swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Pensive
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Pensive is Notorious (PPG1074-4) — very close at ΔE 2.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Notorious swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Pensive
At Glidden, the closest color to Pensive is Notorious (PPG1074-4) — very close at ΔE 2.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Notorious swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Pensive
Dutch Boy's nearest match is 10 Gallon Hat (413-3DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full 10 Gallon Hat swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Pensive
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Pensive is Universal Khaki (HGSW 3185) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 40 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Universal Khaki swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Pensive
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Trail Dust (DE6123), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It runs slightly darker (LRV 40 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full Trail Dust swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Pensive
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Pensive is Rustic Oak (JG-110) — very close at ΔE 3.2, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 40 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rustic Oak swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Pensive
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Pensive is Smoked Trout (NO. 60) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoked Trout swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Pensive
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Pensive is Macadamia Brown (0184). At ΔE 0.76 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Macadamia Brown and you'll get the same color. See the full Macadamia Brown swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Pensive
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Delicate Honeysweet (0189), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.21). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full Delicate Honeysweet swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Pensive
Rodda's nearest match is Unity (R129), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full Unity swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Pensive
C2 Paint's nearest match is Intrigue (C2-812), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.73). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full Intrigue swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Pensive
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Pensive. The nearest is Havana (HAVANA) at ΔE 4.98 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 40 vs 42). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Havana swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Pensive
Kompozit's nearest match is Delicate Honeysweet (0189), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.21). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Pensive without repainting risk. See the full Delicate Honeysweet swatch →