CP
DUNN-EDWARDS · DESS38

Dunn-Edwards Mushroom Caps#8C8E89 · LRV 27

Mushroom Caps reads as a true neutral (no measurable hue) — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the spec, what Dunn-Edwards DESS38 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUNN-EDWARDS MUSHROOM CAPS
RGB 140, 142, 137 LRV 27

Color spec

Brand Dunn-Edwards
Name Mushroom Caps
SKU DESS38
Hex #8C8E89
RGB 140, 142, 137
HSL 84°, 2%, 55%
LRV 27
Undertone true neutral (no measurable hue)
Family Gray

About Dunn-Edwards Mushroom Caps

Mushroom Caps sits in the mid-range at LRV 27, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.

Mushroom Caps is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.

Closest matches at every US brand

13 brands · top 5 each

5 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 gray from that brand.

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.31
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1009-5 · #8E908D · ΔE 1.31 · LRV 28
PPG1010-5 · #8A8A87 · ΔE 2.07 · LRV 25
PPG1002-5 · #918E8D · ΔE 4.06 · LRV 27
PPG14-06 · #948E83 · ΔE 4.59 · LRV 27
PPG1003-5 · #908C8E · ΔE 5.93 · LRV 27

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.31
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-138 · #8D8E8B · ΔE 1.31 · LRV 27
JG-146 · #918F89 · ΔE 2.19 · LRV 27
JG-124 · #8E897F · ΔE 4.22 · LRV 25
JG-07 · #869088 · ΔE 4.27 · LRV 27
JG-95 · #858C90 · ΔE 5.2 · LRV 26

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.4
All gray at Behr →
PPU24-20 · #8F8F8B · ΔE 1.4 · LRV 27
HDC-AC-19 · #91908C · ΔE 2.05 · LRV 28
PPU24-08 · #908D86 · ΔE 2.66 · LRV 27
T13-17 · #908D85 · ΔE 2.77 · LRV 27
790F-4 · #928C89 · ΔE 4.89 · LRV 27

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.55
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-MD-14 · #91928C · ΔE 1.55 · LRV 28
PNT100-DP-52 · #8C8479 · ΔE 6.22 · LRV 23
PNT100-MD-16 · #7B8082 · ΔE 6.47 · LRV 21
PNT100-LT-32 · #9C9CA7 · ΔE 10.31 · LRV 34
PNT100-MD-39 · #7BA0AE · ΔE 13.93 · LRV 32

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.56
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0582 · #878A85 · ΔE 1.56 · LRV 25
0575 · #8D8B82 · ΔE 2.73 · LRV 26
0442 · #8A9086 · ΔE 3.4 · LRV 27
0527 · #848B8D · ΔE 4.34 · LRV 25
0562 · #979088 · ΔE 4.9 · LRV 28

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.62
All gray at Valspar →
V119-2 · #8E8D88 · ΔE 1.62 · LRV 26.5
8004-30E · #8E9087 · ΔE 2.08 · LRV 27
V142-4 · #8E9087 · ΔE 2.08 · LRV 27.3
8006-3E · #918F85 · ΔE 2.94 · LRV 27
T696 · #898F85 · ΔE 3.39 · LRV 26.5

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.16
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-953 · #8B8E8D · ΔE 2.16 · LRV 27
C2-952 · #8F8D89 · ΔE 2.38 · LRV 27
C2-968 · #88908F · ΔE 3.3 · LRV 27
C2-794 · #928A81 · ΔE 5.33 · LRV 26
BD82 · #878F80 · ΔE 5.78 · LRV 26

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.22
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9164 · #92948D · ΔE 2.22 · LRV 29
SW 9569 · #8E8A81 · ΔE 3.55 · LRV 25
SW 7018 · #908A83 · ΔE 4.33 · LRV 26
SW 9168 · #988F85 · ΔE 5.87 · LRV 28
SW 9172 · #958D7F · ΔE 5.94 · LRV 27

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.22
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 272 · #8C8E8D · ΔE 2.22 · LRV 27
NO. 216 · #989188 · ΔE 5.01 · LRV 29
NO. 79 · #899081 · ΔE 5.52 · LRV 27
NO. 292 · #8C8C7A · ΔE 5.9 · LRV 26
NO. 243 · #9A9087 · ΔE 6.39 · LRV 29

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.34
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
1483 · #898C83 · ΔE 2.34 · LRV 26
2137-40 · #8D8C7F · ΔE 3.92 · LRV 27
1601 · #888D8F · ΔE 3.95 · LRV 27
ES-76 · #8D9193 · ΔE 4.03 · LRV 28
2124-30 · #8B9094 · ΔE 5.07 · LRV 28

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.83
All gray at Dutch Boy →
437-4DB · #898885 · ΔE 2.83 · LRV 25
436-5DB · #858A8C · ΔE 4.19 · LRV 25
439-4DB · #8C877F · ΔE 4.26 · LRV 24
443-4DB · #978A7F · ΔE 7.71 · LRV 26
445-4DB · #958B8E · ΔE 8.84 · LRV 27

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.11
All gray at Kompozit →
0582 · #828782 · ΔE 3.11 · LRV 24
0442 · #838C82 · ΔE 4.64 · LRV 25
0422 · #949587 · ΔE 4.72 · LRV 30
0562 · #948D84 · ΔE 4.78 · LRV 27
0491 · #7D8F92 · ΔE 7.36 · LRV 26

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 6.4
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-HF · #7C8478 · ΔE 6.4 · LRV 22
BD-PW · #7C8E97 · ΔE 8.86 · LRV 27
BD-CT · #A89E8A · ΔE 9.67 · LRV 33
BD-AN · #A89886 · ΔE 10.31 · LRV 33
BD-OS · #7E7C5C · ΔE 12.81 · LRV 18

Similar Dunn-Edwards colors

closest in the Dunn-Edwards deck

The nearest shades to Mushroom Caps within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

DET612 · LRV 27
DEGR47 · LRV 27
DEGR39 · LRV 27
DEGR74 · LRV 26
DE6278 · LRV 26
DEGR25 · LRV 28

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #8C8E89 in HSL space. Pair Mushroom Caps with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#8C8E89 + #8B898E
TRIADIC
#8C8E89 · #898C8E · #8E898C
ANALOGOUS
#8E8E89 · #8C8E89 · #8A8E89

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
3.31:1 AA Large
Sample text on black
6.35:1 AA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dunn-Edwards Mushroom Caps Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Mushroom Caps 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 DESS38 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Phoenix Fossil (PPG1009-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Mushroom Caps without repainting risk. See the full Phoenix Fossil swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Magnolia Home's nearest match is Cozy Up (JG-138), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Mushroom Caps without repainting risk. See the full Cozy Up swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Behr's nearest match is Letter Gray (PPU24-20), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.4). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Mushroom Caps without repainting risk. See the full Letter Gray swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Clare's nearest match is Shade (PNT100-MD-14), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.55). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Mushroom Caps without repainting risk. See the full Shade swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Valspar's nearest match is Four-Wheel Gray (V119-2), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.62). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26.5 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Mushroom Caps without repainting risk. See the full Four-Wheel Gray swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Mushroom Caps is Plummett (NO. 272) — very close at ΔE 2.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Plummett swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Mushroom Caps is Cos Cob Stonewall (1483) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cos Cob Stonewall swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

At C2 Paint, the closest color to Mushroom Caps is Titanium (C2-952) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Titanium swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Mushroom Caps is Relaxed Gray (437-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Relaxed Gray swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Mushroom Caps is Dowager (0442) — very close at ΔE 3.4, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dowager swatch →

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Mushroom Caps. The nearest is Dovetail (SW 7018) at ΔE 4.33 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dovetail swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Kompozit has no exact twin of Mushroom Caps. The nearest is Sultry Castle (0562) at ΔE 4.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sultry Castle swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Mushroom Caps

Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Mushroom Caps — the nearest deck color, Polly Wants (BD-PW), is clearly different (ΔE 8.86). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DESS38 instead. See the full Polly Wants swatch →

EXPLORE MORE