CP
DUNN-EDWARDS · DEBN31

Dunn-Edwards Road Less Traveled#8E8070 · LRV 22

Road Less Traveled reads as a red-orange / warm — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Dunn-Edwards DEBN31 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUNN-EDWARDS ROAD LESS TRAVELED
RGB 142, 128, 112 LRV 22

Color spec

Brand Dunn-Edwards
Name Road Less Traveled
SKU DEBN31
Hex #8E8070
RGB 142, 128, 112
HSL 32°, 12%, 50%
LRV 22
Undertone red-orange / warm
Family Neutral

About Dunn-Edwards Road Less Traveled

With an LRV of 22, Road Less Traveled 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.

Road Less Traveled works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.

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 neutral from that brand.

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.67
All neutral at Behr →
N190-5 · #908170 · ΔE 0.67 · LRV 23
720D-5 · #8E8273 · ΔE 1.13 · LRV 23
HDC-FL13-11 · #938271 · ΔE 1.66 · LRV 23
HDC-NT-11 · #907F69 · ΔE 2.42 · LRV 22
PPU7-03A · #94806C · ΔE 2.71 · LRV 23

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.87
All neutral at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9619 · #8D7E6D · ΔE 0.87 · LRV 22
SW 6151 · #8E7F6A · ΔE 2.09 · LRV 22
SW 9514 · #8C8373 · ΔE 2.77 · LRV 23
SW 6074 · #8D7F75 · ΔE 2.99 · LRV 22
SW 6172 · #8B8372 · ΔE 3.49 · LRV 23

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.83
All neutral at C2 Paint →
BD35 · #8D7E71 · ΔE 1.83 · LRV 22
C2-906 · #8D8474 · ΔE 2.88 · LRV 23
C2-824 · #937C6B · ΔE 4.21 · LRV 22
C2-936 · #888272 · ΔE 4.34 · LRV 22
C2-921 · #868274 · ΔE 5.18 · LRV 22

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.02
All neutral at Valspar →
8005-8E · #928070 · ΔE 2.02 · LRV 23
V132-5 · #928070 · ΔE 2.02 · LRV 22.7
6007-2B · #8F7E68 · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 21.8
V134-5 · #95806A · ΔE 3.27 · LRV 22.9
8004-9E · #967E71 · ΔE 5.49 · LRV 23

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.02
All neutral at Dutch Boy →
441-5DB · #887B6C · ΔE 2.02 · LRV 20
419-5DB · #8E7F6A · ΔE 2.09 · LRV 22
417-5DB · #96826A · ΔE 3.54 · LRV 24
447-4DB · #8C7E78 · ΔE 5.17 · LRV 22
422-5DB · #858173 · ΔE 5.2 · LRV 22

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.26
All neutral at Diamond Vogel →
0227 · #90836F · ΔE 2.26 · LRV 23
0191 · #917D69 · ΔE 2.8 · LRV 22
0234 · #8B7F6A · ΔE 2.89 · LRV 22
0569 · #878074 · ΔE 3.48 · LRV 22
H114 · #88806B · ΔE 4.58 · LRV 21

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.27
All neutral at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1024-6 · #8A7E6B · ΔE 2.27 · LRV 21
PPG1000-5 · #8E8475 · ΔE 2.3 · LRV 24
PPG1025-5 · #8D8475 · ΔE 2.75 · LRV 23
PPG1074-5 · #967E70 · ΔE 5.21 · LRV 23
FLLW623 · #957D6F · ΔE 5.22 · LRV 22

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.27
All neutral at Kompozit →
0227 · #8B7E6A · ΔE 2.27 · LRV 21
0569 · #847C70 · ΔE 3.52 · LRV 20
0339 · #908268 · ΔE 4.22 · LRV 23
0575 · #88857D · ΔE 5.89 · LRV 23
0135 · #987A6E · ΔE 8.14 · LRV 22

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.38
All neutral at Benjamin Moore →
CSP-260 · #94836E · ΔE 2.38 · LRV 24
1545 · #8B8274 · ΔE 2.46 · LRV 23
CC-574 · #8E816A · ΔE 3.28 · LRV 23
2109-40 · #8E7F79 · ΔE 5.37 · LRV 23
CW-360 · #8E7F79 · ΔE 5.37 · LRV 23

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.74
All neutral at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 54 · #918069 · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 22
NO. 40 · #958975 · ΔE 3.85 · LRV 26
NO. 41 · #99896E · ΔE 5.26 · LRV 26
NO. 276 · #87847F · ΔE 6.43 · LRV 23
NO. 292 · #8C8C7A · ΔE 8.51 · LRV 26

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.3
All neutral at Clare →
PNT100-DP-52 · #8C8479 · ΔE 3.3 · LRV 23
PNT100-DP-66 · #767665 · ΔE 9.35 · LRV 18
PNT100-MD-14 · #91928C · ΔE 9.68 · LRV 28
PNT100-MD-16 · #7B8082 · ΔE 11.47 · LRV 21
PNT100-DP-61 · #6C795F · ΔE 15.56 · LRV 18

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 5.32
All neutral at Magnolia Home →
JG-124 · #8E897F · ΔE 5.32 · LRV 25
JG-20 · #85837B · ΔE 6.28 · LRV 23
JG-130 · #857F7C · ΔE 6.47 · LRV 22
JG-125 · #838379 · ΔE 7.23 · LRV 22
JG-60 · #86897D · ΔE 9.08 · LRV 24

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 8.36
All neutral at Backdrop →
BD-AN · #A89886 · ΔE 8.36 · LRV 33
BD-CT · #A89E8A · ΔE 10.27 · LRV 33
BD-OS · #7E7C5C · ΔE 10.36 · LRV 18
BD-HF · #7C8478 · ΔE 11.29 · LRV 22
BD-PW · #7C8E97 · ΔE 17.09 · LRV 27

Similar Dunn-Edwards colors

closest in the Dunn-Edwards deck

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

DESS17 · LRV 22
DEBN28 · LRV 21
DEGR05 · LRV 23
DEBN26 · LRV 23
DEGR01 · LRV 22
DEBN35 · LRV 22

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #8E8070 in HSL space. Pair Road Less Traveled with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#8E8070 + #707E8E
TRIADIC
#8E8070 · #708E80 · #80708E
ANALOGOUS
#8E7170 · #8E8070 · #8D8E70

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
3.84:1 AA Large
Sample text on black
5.47:1 AA

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

Dunn-Edwards Road Less Traveled Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Road Less Traveled 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 DEBN31 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Behr Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

The closest Behr equivalent of Road Less Traveled is Frontier Brown (N190-5). At ΔE 0.67 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22). If Behr is your counter, order Frontier Brown and you'll get the same color. See the full Frontier Brown swatch →

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Road Less Traveled is Teakwood (SW 9619). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Teakwood and you'll get the same color. See the full Teakwood swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

C2 Paint's nearest match is Stonewall (BD35), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.83). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Road Less Traveled without repainting risk. See the full Stonewall swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Valspar, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Chocolate Milk (8005-8E) — very close at ΔE 2.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Chocolate Milk swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Shelled Nut (419-5DB) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shelled Nut swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Moonscape (0227) — very close at ΔE 2.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Moonscape swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Patches (PPG1024-6) — very close at ΔE 2.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Patches swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Kompozit, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Moonscape (0227) — very close at ΔE 2.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Moonscape swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Iron Gate (1545) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Iron Gate swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Dauphin (NO. 54) — very close at ΔE 2.74, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dauphin swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

At Clare, the closest color to Road Less Traveled is Dirty Chai (PNT100-DP-52) — very close at ΔE 3.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dirty Chai swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Road Less Traveled — the nearest deck color, Garden Trowel (JG-20), is clearly different (ΔE 6.28). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEBN31 instead. See the full Garden Trowel swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Road Less Traveled

Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Road Less Traveled — the nearest deck color, Hartford (BD-HF), is clearly different (ΔE 11.29). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEBN31 instead. See the full Hartford swatch →

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