Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Essential Brown |
| SKU | DE6203 |
| Hex | #7D6848 |
| RGB | 125, 104, 72 |
| HSL | 36°, 27%, 39% |
| LRV | 14 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Dunn-Edwards Essential Brown
With an LRV of 14, Essential Brown 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.
Essential Brown 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 by brand
14 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Essential Brown 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 #7D6848 in HSL space. Pair Essential Brown 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 Essential Brown Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Essential Brown 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 DE6203 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essential Brown
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Mossy Gold (SW 6139), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.49). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Essential Brown without repainting risk. See the full Mossy Gold swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Essential Brown
The closest Behr equivalent of Essential Brown is Sweet Georgia Brown (280F-6). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14). If Behr is your counter, order Sweet Georgia Brown and you'll get the same color. See the full Sweet Georgia Brown swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Essential Brown
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Essential Brown is Blue Ridge Mountains (1043) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Ridge Mountains swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Essential Brown
At Valspar, the closest color to Essential Brown is Grecian Helmet (3006-9A) — very close at ΔE 2.84, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13.8 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grecian Helmet swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Essential Brown
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Essential Brown is Seasoned Acorn (PPG1096-7) — very close at ΔE 2.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Seasoned Acorn swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Essential Brown
At Glidden, the closest color to Essential Brown is Seasoned Acorn (PPG1096-7) — very close at ΔE 2.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Seasoned Acorn swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Essential Brown
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Essential Brown is Wild Woods (418-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wild Woods swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essential Brown
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Essential Brown is Admiral Bronze (HGSW 2211) — very close at ΔE 2.95, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Admiral Bronze swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Essential Brown
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Queen Lioness (0284), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Essential Brown without repainting risk. See the full Queen Lioness swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Essential Brown
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Golden Summer (0305), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.56). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Essential Brown without repainting risk. See the full Golden Summer swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Essential Brown
At Rodda, the closest color to Essential Brown is Handcrafted (R054) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Handcrafted swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Essential Brown
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Essential Brown. The nearest is Impeccable (C2-630) at ΔE 3.85 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Impeccable swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Essential Brown
Kompozit's nearest match is Golden Summer (0305), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.56). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Essential Brown without repainting risk. See the full Golden Summer swatch →