Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Kernel |
| SKU | C2-866 |
| Hex | #F3E5C7 |
| RGB | 243, 229, 199 |
| HSL | 41°, 65%, 87% |
| LRV | 79 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | White |
About C2 Paint Kernel
Kernel is very light — LRV 79, close to white. It opens up small or dim rooms and keeps walls feeling airy. 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. In north light it can read slightly cooler; a warm white trim alongside keeps it from going clinical.
Kernel shines on ceilings, trim and in small or low-light rooms where you need to stretch the light — and as a calm whole-home backdrop. As a white, it's a natural for trim, ceilings and cabinets, and a clean backdrop for art.
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 white from that brand.
Kompozit
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Valspar
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Behr
Farrow & Ball
Dutch Boy
Sherwin-Williams
Backdrop
Magnolia Home
Clare
Similar C2 Paint colors
closest in the C2 Paint deckThe nearest shades to Kernel 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 #F3E5C7 in HSL space. Pair Kernel 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 Kernel Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Kernel 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 C2-866 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Kompozit Equivalent of Kernel
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Kernel is Cauliflower Cream (0880). At ΔE 0.39 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 79). If Kompozit is your counter, order Cauliflower Cream and you'll get the same color. See the full Cauliflower Cream swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Kernel
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Kernel is To The Rescue (PPG12-25). At ΔE 0.48 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 79 vs 79). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order To The Rescue and you'll get the same color. See the full To The Rescue swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Kernel
The closest Valspar equivalent of Kernel is Lantern (T550). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 79.6 vs 79). If Valspar is your counter, order Lantern and you'll get the same color. See the full Lantern swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Kernel
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Kernel is Jefferson Cream (DET666). At ΔE 0.69 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 77 vs 79). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Jefferson Cream and you'll get the same color. See the full Jefferson Cream swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Kernel
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Kernel is Ivory Lustre (184). At ΔE 0.9 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 77 vs 79). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Ivory Lustre and you'll get the same color. See the full Ivory Lustre swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Kernel
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Kernel is Cauliflower Cream (0880). At ΔE 0.96 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 79). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Cauliflower Cream and you'll get the same color. See the full Cauliflower Cream swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Kernel
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is House White (NO. 2012), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 79) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Kernel without repainting risk. See the full House White swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Kernel
Behr's nearest match is Cream Puff (PPU6-10), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.75). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 79) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Kernel without repainting risk. See the full Cream Puff swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Kernel
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Kernel is Welcome White (SW 6658) — very close at ΔE 2.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 79) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Welcome White swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Kernel
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Kernel is All-Star (212-1DB) — very close at ΔE 2.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 79) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full All-Star swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Kernel
At Backdrop, the closest color to Kernel is Don't Eat the Yellow Snow (BD-DS) — very close at ΔE 2.93, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 84 vs 79) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Don't Eat the Yellow Snow swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Kernel
Clare has no exact twin of Kernel. The nearest is Like Buttah (PNT100-LT-62) at ΔE 4.08 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 80 vs 79). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Like Buttah swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Kernel
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Kernel. The nearest is Carter Crème (JG-16) at ΔE 4.38 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 80 vs 79). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Carter Crème swatch →