Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Muddy Waters |
| SKU | C2-869 |
| Hex | #5B5956 |
| RGB | 91, 89, 86 |
| HSL | 36°, 3%, 35% |
| LRV | 10 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About C2 Paint Muddy Waters
With an LRV of 10, Muddy Waters is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Muddy Waters works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. 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.
Behr
Magnolia Home
Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Benjamin Moore
Dutch Boy
Kompozit
PPG / Glidden
Valspar
Clare
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Backdrop
Similar C2 Paint colors
closest in the C2 Paint deckThe nearest shades to Muddy Waters 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 #5B5956 in HSL space. Pair Muddy Waters 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 Muddy Waters Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Muddy Waters 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 C2-869 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Muddy Waters
The closest Behr equivalent of Muddy Waters is Peppery (MQ2-62). At ΔE 0.74 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10). If Behr is your counter, order Peppery and you'll get the same color. See the full Peppery swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Conservatory (JG-158), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.33). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Muddy Waters without repainting risk. See the full Conservatory swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Forged Steel (SW 9565), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.34). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Muddy Waters without repainting risk. See the full Forged Steel swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Charcoal Sketch (DET628), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Muddy Waters without repainting risk. See the full Charcoal Sketch swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Gray (2121-10), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Muddy Waters without repainting risk. See the full Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Ship's Anchor (437-6DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Muddy Waters without repainting risk. See the full Ship's Anchor swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Muddy Waters
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Muddy Waters is Bark (PPG1007-7) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bark swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Muddy Waters
At Valspar, the closest color to Muddy Waters is Sable Evening (5006-2C) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9.9 vs 10) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sable Evening swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Muddy Waters
At Kompozit, the closest color to Muddy Waters is Smokescreen (0556) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smokescreen swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Muddy Waters. The nearest is Telfor Tower (H097) at ΔE 4.62 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Telfor Tower swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Muddy Waters — the nearest deck color, Reduced Green (NO. 313), is clearly different (ΔE 5.68). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-869 instead. See the full Reduced Green swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Muddy Waters — the nearest deck color, Goodnight Moon (PNT100-DP-42), is clearly different (ΔE 7.8). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-869 instead. See the full Goodnight Moon swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Muddy Waters — the nearest deck color, We Three Kings (BD-WK), is clearly different (ΔE 14.26). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-869 instead. See the full We Three Kings swatch →