Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | First Lilac |
| SKU | DE5981 |
| Hex | #E7D6ED |
| RGB | 231, 214, 237 |
| HSL | 284°, 39%, 88% |
| LRV | 66 |
| Undertone | cool violet tone |
| Family | Purple |
About Dunn-Edwards First Lilac
At LRV 66, First Lilac is a light color that bounces daylight around a room without tipping into stark white. Its violet 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. It holds its undertone in most exposures, which is what makes light shades like this so forgiving room to room.
First Lilac is an easy whole-room color for living spaces and bedrooms, and light enough to carry onto trim or a ceiling if you want a soft, seamless look. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
Closest matches by brand
10 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 purple from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to First Lilac 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 #E7D6ED in HSL space. Pair First Lilac 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 First Lilac Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching First Lilac 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 DE5981 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of First Lilac
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to First Lilac is Joyful Lilac (SW 6972) — very close at ΔE 3.36, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 66) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Joyful Lilac swatch →
Behr Equivalent of First Lilac
The closest Behr equivalent of First Lilac is Heather Rose (690E-2). At ΔE 0.76 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool violet undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 66). If Behr is your counter, order Heather Rose and you'll get the same color. See the full Heather Rose swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of First Lilac
At Valspar, the closest color to First Lilac is Orchid Shimmer (V038-1) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 70.8 vs 66) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Orchid Shimmer swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of First Lilac
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of First Lilac. The nearest is Lavender Vista (PPG1249-2) at ΔE 4.35 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 66). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Lavender Vista swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of First Lilac
Glidden has no exact twin of First Lilac. The nearest is Amethyst Ice (04RB 71/082) at ΔE 4.15 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 71 vs 66). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Amethyst Ice swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of First Lilac
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of First Lilac. The nearest is Divine Lilac (144-2DB) at ΔE 3.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 66). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Divine Lilac swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of First Lilac
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of First Lilac. The nearest is Flowers of May (1232) at ΔE 3.67 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 66). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Flowers of May swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of First Lilac
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of First Lilac. The nearest is Flowers of May (1232) at ΔE 3.79 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 66). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Flowers of May swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of First Lilac
Kompozit has no exact twin of First Lilac. The nearest is Flowers of May (1232) at ΔE 3.79 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 71 vs 66). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Flowers of May swatch →