Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Muddy Waters |
| SKU | C2-869 |
| Hex | #5B5956 |
| RGB | 91, 89, 86 |
| HSL | 36°, 3%, 35% |
| LRV | 10 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| 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 by brand
16 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
Kompozit
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Glidden Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Glidden's nearest match is Undercover (PPG0998-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Muddy Waters without repainting risk. See the full Undercover 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 →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Muddy Waters
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Peppercorn (HGSW 1491), 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 Peppercorn 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 →
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 →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Muddy Waters. The nearest is Beetle Black (NO. G16) at ΔE 3.8 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Beetle Black 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 →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Muddy Waters
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Muddy Waters is Smokescreen (0556) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 12 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 →
Rodda Equivalent of Muddy Waters
Rodda's nearest match is Space Dive (R023), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.37). 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 Space Dive 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 →