Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Play on Gray |
| SKU | DE6228 |
| Hex | #BAB6A9 |
| RGB | 186, 182, 169 |
| HSL | 46°, 11%, 70% |
| LRV | 43 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Dunn-Edwards Play on Gray
Play on Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 43, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its yellow 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Play on Gray is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Closest matches by brand
18 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 neutral 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
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Play on Gray 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 #BAB6A9 in HSL space. Pair Play on Gray 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 Play on Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Play on Gray 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 DE6228 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Play on Gray
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Play on Gray is Amazing Gray (SW 7044) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Amazing Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Play on Gray
Behr's nearest match is Barista (N210-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Play on Gray without repainting risk. See the full Barista swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Play on Gray
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Play on Gray is Cosmopolitan (CSP-100). At ΔE 0.52 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Cosmopolitan and you'll get the same color. See the full Cosmopolitan swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Play on Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Frappe (6003-1B), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47.1 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Play on Gray without repainting risk. See the full Frappe swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Play on Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Play on Gray is Ghost Writer (PPG1007-3) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ghost Writer swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Play on Gray
Glidden's nearest match is Ghost Writer (PPG1007-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.66). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Play on Gray without repainting risk. See the full Ghost Writer swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Play on Gray
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Play on Gray is Rhino-ed Gray (440-2DB) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rhino-ed Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Play on Gray
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Mindful Gray (HGSW 3476), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.66). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Play on Gray without repainting risk. See the full Mindful Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Play on Gray
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Sunday Stroll (JG-19), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Play on Gray without repainting risk. See the full Sunday Stroll swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Play on Gray
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Play on Gray. The nearest is Ash Grey (NO. W9) at ΔE 3.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ash Grey swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Play on Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Play on Gray is Marshy Habitat (0204) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Marshy Habitat swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Play on Gray
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Play on Gray is Light Lichen (0211) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Light Lichen swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Play on Gray
Rodda's nearest match is Chiseled Shale (R044), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.49). It runs noticeably lighter (LRV 49 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Play on Gray without repainting risk. See the full Chiseled Shale swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Play on Gray
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Play on Gray is Vex (C2-927). At ΔE 0.92 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 46 vs 43). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Vex and you'll get the same color. See the full Vex swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Play on Gray
Clare has no exact twin of Play on Gray. The nearest is Money Moves (PNT100-MD-48) at ΔE 4.92 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Money Moves swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Play on Gray
The closest Portola Paints equivalent of Play on Gray is Piano Room (PIANO ROOM). At ΔE 0.9 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43). If Portola Paints is your counter, order Piano Room and you'll get the same color. See the full Piano Room swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Play on Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Play on Gray is Light Lichen (0211) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 43) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Light Lichen swatch →