Color guide · Dunn-Edwards · Gray

Samson Bronze

DEB005 · #534E4E · LRV 7 · neutral with no strong undertone

DEB005 · #534E4E · LRV 7 — neutral with no strong undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.

Samson BronzeDunn-Edwards · DEB005
The color, edge to edge.Use your own photo →
Samson Bronze
DUNN-EDWARDS · DEB005 · #534E4E
Brand · codeDunn-EdwardsDEB005 · all Dunn-Edwards grays
LRV7Very dark — reads black in most rooms.
Undertoneneutral with no strong undertone
FamilyGray
Hex · RGB · HSL#534E4E · 83, 78, 78 · 0°, 3%, 32%Display values from the brand. Match it at another brand
Sheen we recommendEggshell on walls · satin on trim and cabinetsWhich sheen where, explained
Where it sits, light to dark
  1. 1Samson Bronze7
  2. 2Pewter Green12
  3. 3Retreat21
Undertone and depth

What Color Is Samson Bronze, Really?

Samson Bronze reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DEB005 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.

Room by room

Best Rooms and Uses for Samson Bronze

Samson Bronze earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.

Light by light

How Lighting Changes Samson Bronze

At LRV 7, Samson Bronze is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.

Test it in your light, not a showroom's

Most complaints about Samson Bronze are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.

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Same color, different store

Need It From Another Brand?

Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEB005 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.

Same deck, next chip over

Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors

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

Contrast, for text and signage
Black text on Samson Bronze · 2.6 : 1 · fails for textWhite text on Samson Bronze · 8.2 : 1 · passes AA and AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #534E4E in HSL space. Pair Samson Bronze with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#534E4E + #4E5353
TRIADIC
#534E4E · #4E534E · #4E4E53
ANALOGOUS
#534E51 · #534E4E · #53514E

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Jessica Williams

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