Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Black Forest |
| SKU | DEA175 |
| Hex | #5E6354 |
| RGB | 94, 99, 84 |
| HSL | 80°, 8%, 36% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | cool green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Dunn-Edwards Black Forest
With an LRV of 11, Black Forest is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Black Forest 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
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Black Forest 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 #5E6354 in HSL space. Pair Black Forest 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 Black Forest Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Forest 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 DEA175 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Forest
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Black Forest is Pewter Green (SW 6208) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pewter Green swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Forest
Behr's nearest match is Pine Cone Pass (T13-16), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Black Forest without repainting risk. See the full Pine Cone Pass swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Black Forest
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Black Forest is Dark Olive (2140-30) — very close at ΔE 2.04, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 11) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Olive swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Forest
At Valspar, the closest color to Black Forest is Architect (T700) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12.3 vs 11) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Architect swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Forest
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Black Forest is Plunge Pool (PPG1029-7) — very close at ΔE 3.35, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Plunge Pool swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Forest
Glidden has no exact twin of Black Forest. The nearest is Plunge Pool (PPG1029-7) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Plunge Pool swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Forest
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Black Forest. The nearest is Tuscan Olive (324-7DB) at ΔE 3.79 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tuscan Olive swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Forest
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Black Forest is Woodland Lichen (HGSW 3282) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Woodland Lichen swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Black Forest
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Lemon Leaves (JG-62), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Black Forest without repainting risk. See the full Lemon Leaves swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Forest
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Black Forest. The nearest is Minster Green (NO. 224) at ΔE 4.2 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Minster Green swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Forest
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Black Forest is Monogram (0424) — very close at ΔE 3.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Monogram swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Forest
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Black Forest is Newbury Moss (H0092) — very close at ΔE 2.55, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Newbury Moss swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Black Forest
At Rodda, the closest color to Black Forest is Green Tea (CA167) — very close at ΔE 2.68, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Green Tea swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Forest
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Black Forest. The nearest is Foliage (C2-661) at ΔE 4.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Foliage swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Black Forest
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Black Forest. The nearest is Wonderland (WONDERLAND) at ΔE 4.01 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Wonderland swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Forest
At Kompozit, the closest color to Black Forest is Serpentine (0443) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Serpentine swatch →