Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Ancient Grain |
| SKU | DEBN03 |
| Hex | #8B7366 |
| RGB | 139, 115, 102 |
| HSL | 21°, 15%, 47% |
| LRV | 19 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Brown |
About Dunn-Edwards Ancient Grain
With an LRV of 19, Ancient Grain is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Ancient Grain works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm 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 brown from that brand.
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Valspar
Dutch Boy
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Magnolia Home
Benjamin Moore
Kompozit
Diamond Vogel
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
Clare
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Ancient Grain within Dunn-Edwards'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 #8B7366 in HSL space. Pair Ancient Grain 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.
Dunn-Edwards Ancient Grain Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Ancient Grain 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 Dunn-Edwards DEBN03 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Ancient Grain
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Ancient Grain is Derby Brown (PPG1073-6). At ΔE 0.4 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Derby Brown and you'll get the same color. See the full Derby Brown swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Ancient Grain
C2 Paint's nearest match is Guava (C2-793), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.18). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Ancient Grain without repainting risk. See the full Guava swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Valspar's nearest match is Nest (V131-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Ancient Grain without repainting risk. See the full Nest swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Ancient Grain
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Ancient Grain is Tree Branch (SW 7525) — very close at ΔE 2.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tree Branch swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Ancient Grain
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Ancient Grain is Twiggy Brown (412-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Twiggy Brown swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Ancient Grain
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Ancient Grain is Elemental (JG-129) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Elemental swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Ancient Grain
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Ancient Grain is Long Valley Birch (1021) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Long Valley Birch swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Behr has no exact twin of Ancient Grain. The nearest is True Walnut (BXC-73) at ΔE 3.82 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full True Walnut swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Kompozit has no exact twin of Ancient Grain. The nearest is Dusty Path (0191) at ΔE 4.25 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dusty Path swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Ancient Grain. The nearest is Arrowhead (0129) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Arrowhead swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Ancient Grain — the nearest deck color, Broccoli Brown (NO. 198), is clearly different (ΔE 6.26). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEBN03 instead. See the full Broccoli Brown swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Ancient Grain — the nearest deck color, Field Trip (PNT100-DP-66), is clearly different (ΔE 13.63). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEBN03 instead. See the full Field Trip swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Ancient Grain
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Ancient Grain — the nearest deck color, Old Soul (BD-OS), is clearly different (ΔE 15.81). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEBN03 instead. See the full Old Soul swatch →