Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Esoteric |
| SKU | C2-989 |
| Hex | #BBC4C0 |
| RGB | 187, 196, 192 |
| HSL | 153°, 7%, 75% |
| LRV | 54 |
| Undertone | green / cool |
| 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 at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Valspar
Behr
Dutch Boy
Diamond Vogel
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Benjamin Moore
Kompozit
Clare
Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Esoteric
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Esoteric — the nearest deck color, Pavilion Gray (NO. 242), is clearly different (ΔE 5.11). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-989 instead. See the full Pavilion Gray swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Esoteric
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Esoteric — the nearest deck color, Lost in the 80s (BD-LO), is clearly different (ΔE 10.11). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-989 instead. See the full Lost in the 80s swatch →