Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Esoteric |
| SKU | C2-989 |
| Hex | #BBC4C0 |
| RGB | 187, 196, 192 |
| HSL | 153°, 7%, 75% |
| LRV | 54 |
| Undertone | cool green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About C2 Paint Esoteric
At LRV 54, Esoteric is a light color that bounces daylight around a room without tipping into stark white. Its green 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. It holds its undertone in most exposures, which is what makes light shades like this so forgiving room to room.
Esoteric is an easy whole-room color for living spaces and bedrooms, and light enough to carry onto trim or a ceiling if you want a soft, seamless look. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
18 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar C2 Paint colors
closest in the C2 Paint deckThe nearest shades to Esoteric within C2 Paint'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 #BBC4C0 in HSL space. Pair Esoteric 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.
C2 Paint Esoteric Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Esoteric 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 C2 Paint C2-989 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Esoteric
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Esoteric is Silver Tipped Sage (SW 9642) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 54 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Tipped Sage swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Esoteric
The closest Behr equivalent of Esoteric is Pewter Tray (ICC-47). At ΔE 0.67 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 55 vs 54). If Behr is your counter, order Pewter Tray and you'll get the same color. See the full Pewter Tray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Esoteric
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Wales Gray (1585), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 54 vs 54) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Wales Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Esoteric
Valspar's nearest match is New Morn Fog (M356), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.03). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 53.7 vs 54) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full New Morn Fog swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Esoteric
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Esoteric is Quest (PPG10-15) — very close at ΔE 3.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 53 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Quest swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Esoteric
Glidden's nearest match is Misty Grey Green (10GG 53/030), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 53 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Misty Grey Green swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Esoteric
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Grayed Wolf (426-3DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.13). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 55 vs 54) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Grayed Wolf swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Esoteric
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Esoteric is Comfort Gray (HGSW 3286) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 52 vs 54) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Comfort Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Esoteric
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Ashwood (DE6290), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It runs slightly darker (LRV 50 vs 54) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Ashwood swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Esoteric
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Esoteric is Loft (JG-83) — very close at ΔE 3.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 55 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Loft swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Esoteric
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Ice Flow (0448), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.24). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 55 vs 54) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Ice Flow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Esoteric
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Ice Flow (0448), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 54 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Ice Flow swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Esoteric
Rodda's nearest match is Silver Glass (CA176), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 55 vs 54) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Silver Glass swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Esoteric
At Clare, the closest color to Esoteric is Motor City (PNT100-LT-09) — very close at ΔE 3.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 54 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Motor City swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Esoteric
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Esoteric. The nearest is Paris Grey (PARIS GREY) at ΔE 4.83 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 52 vs 54). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Paris Grey swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Esoteric
Kompozit's nearest match is Ice Flow (0448), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 54 vs 54) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Esoteric without repainting risk. See the full Ice Flow swatch →