Dark Shadows
DEA183 · #455559 · LRV 8 — cool blue-green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Deep Space3
- 2Dark Shadows8
- 3Hidden Gem14
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
What Color Is Dark Shadows, Really?
Dark Shadows reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DEA183 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Dark Shadows
At LRV 8, Dark Shadows is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its teal 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 rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Dark Shadows are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEA183 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | TarragonSW 9660 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.9 | 7 | Color page → |
| Behr | ChimneyPPU25-22 · Behr | 3.9 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Amazon Green2136-30 · Benjamin Moore | 1.6 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Cobalt Cannon5001-2C · Valspar | 2.5 | 8.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Soothing SapphirePPG10-09 · PPG / Glidden | 4.5 | 9 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Soothing SapphirePPG10-09 · Glidden | 4.0 | 9 | Color page → |
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
The nearest shades to Dark Shadows within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #455559 in HSL space. Pair Dark Shadows with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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