Sharp Cheddar
2017-20 · #FC931E · LRV 39 — warm red-orange tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Determined Orange22
- 2Terra Cotta Clay34
- 3Sharp Cheddar39
- 4Osage Orange45
- 5Colonial Yellow59
What Color Is Sharp Cheddar, Really?
Sharp Cheddar reads as a warm red-orange tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2017-20 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Sharp Cheddar
Sharp Cheddar 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 Sharp Cheddar
Sharp Cheddar sits in the mid-range at LRV 39, 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 Sharp Cheddar 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 2017-20 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 | Forceful OrangeSW 6894 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.8 | 40 | Color page → |
| Behr | Hawaiian PassionS-G-300 · Behr | 2.4 | 41 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Darling ClementineV012-3 · Valspar | 1.0 | 40.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | DynamoPPG17-22 · PPG / Glidden | 4.0 | 39 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Jack O Lantern89YR 36/694 · Glidden | 2.8 | 36 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Monarch Wing111-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.8 | 40 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Sharp Cheddar 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 #FC931E in HSL space. Pair Sharp Cheddar with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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