Powell Gray
CW-665 · #5A656C · LRV 13 — cool blue tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Urbane Bronze8
- 2Powell Gray13
- 3Retreat21
- 4Stardew43
What Color Is Powell Gray, Really?
Powell Gray reads as a cool blue tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore CW-665 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Powell Gray
Powell 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 Powell Gray
With an LRV of 13, Powell Gray is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Powell 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 CW-665 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 | Grays HarborSW 6236 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.3 | 12 | Color page → |
| Behr | CalligraphyN490-6 · Behr | 0.8 | 12 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Relaxed Navy5001-2B · Valspar | 3.0 | 13 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Lava GrayPPG1038-6 · PPG / Glidden | 1.3 | 13 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Lava GrayPPG1038-6 · Glidden | 1.6 | 13 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Steeled Blue430-7DB · Dutch Boy | 1.8 | 13 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Powell 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 #5A656C in HSL space. Pair Powell Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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