Sterling Forest
518 · #6D684E · LRV 14 — warm yellow tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Black Emerald1
- 2Essex Green6
- 3Sterling Forest14
- 4Sage Green22
- 5Evergreen Fog30
What Color Is Sterling Forest, Really?
Sterling Forest reads as a warm yellow tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 518 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Sterling Forest
Sterling Forest works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greens bridge indoors and out, so they suit living rooms, kitchens and sunrooms.
How Lighting Changes Sterling Forest
With an LRV of 14, Sterling Forest is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Sterling Forest 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 518 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 | OakmossSW 6180 · Sherwin-Williams | 4.1 | 13 | Color page → |
| Behr | Butternut Wood710D-6 · Behr | 2.4 | 14 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Thai Basil8004-26F · Valspar | 1.5 | 14 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Russian OlivePPG1112-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.2 | 14 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Olive OrchardPPG11-08 · Glidden | 1.6 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Ol' Moss Green223-7DB · Dutch Boy | 1.1 | 13 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Sterling Forest 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 #6D684E in HSL space. Pair Sterling Forest with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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