CP
DUNN-EDWARDS · DESS31

Dunn-Edwards Seared Ash#474950 · LRV 7

Seared Ash reads as a blue / cool — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the spec, what Dunn-Edwards DESS31 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUNN-EDWARDS SEARED ASH
RGB 71, 73, 80 LRV 7

Color spec

Brand Dunn-Edwards
Name Seared Ash
SKU DESS31
Hex #474950
RGB 71, 73, 80
HSL 227°, 6%, 30%
LRV 7
Undertone blue / cool
Family Gray

About Dunn-Edwards Seared Ash

At LRV 7, Seared Ash 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.

Seared Ash 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.

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.

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.98
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
2120-30 · #46494F · ΔE 0.98 · LRV 9
2119-30 · #464A50 · ΔE 1.51 · LRV 9
1442 · #49484C · ΔE 2.15 · LRV 7
2127-30 · #444A50 · ΔE 2.56 · LRV 8
2126-20 · #464A4D · ΔE 3.09 · LRV 8

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.58
All gray at Behr →
HDC-CL-24 · #474B51 · ΔE 1.58 · LRV 7
ECC-62-2 · #4B494D · ΔE 2.57 · LRV 7
HDC-WR14-4 · #44494D · ΔE 2.96 · LRV 7
N570-6 · #474956 · ΔE 3.25 · LRV 7
BXC-23 · #444A4C · ΔE 4.42 · LRV 7

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.62
All gray at Valspar →
4006-2C · #484B50 · ΔE 1.62 · LRV 7
8004-47G · #454751 · ΔE 1.81 · LRV 6
8006-7F · #454B4F · ΔE 3.42 · LRV 7
V113-3 · #454B4F · ΔE 3.42 · LRV 6.9
4007-2C · #454A4C · ΔE 4.03 · LRV 6.7

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.91
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-144 · #48474C · ΔE 1.91 · LRV 6
JG-97 · #40464B · ΔE 3.24 · LRV 6
JG-145 · #4D484C · ΔE 4.04 · LRV 7
JG-161 · #494E4B · ΔE 7.03 · LRV 7
JG-149 · #514647 · ΔE 7.33 · LRV 7

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.92
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0522 · #47474B · ΔE 1.92 · LRV 6
0529 · #464747 · ΔE 4.31 · LRV 6
0494 · #474C4C · ΔE 5.21 · LRV 7
1229 · #4D4449 · ΔE 6.1 · LRV 6
0543 · #4C4845 · ΔE 6.31 · LRV 7

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.03
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 7076 · #44484D · ΔE 2.03 · LRV 6
SW 9640 · #434A54 · ΔE 2.6 · LRV 7
SW 6265 · #4A4653 · ΔE 5.16 · LRV 6
SW 7615 · #3E4B54 · ΔE 5.23 · LRV 7
SW 9645 · #41494B · ΔE 5.25 · LRV 6

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.03
All gray at Dutch Boy →
434-7DB · #44484D · ΔE 2.03 · LRV 6
432-7DB · #3E4B54 · ΔE 5.23 · LRV 7
346-7DB · #4F4450 · ΔE 7.8 · LRV 6
428-7DB · #3B4B4E · ΔE 8.03 · LRV 7
427-7DB · #414E4E · ΔE 8.06 · LRV 7

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.14
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1037-7 · #484C51 · ΔE 2.14 · LRV 7
PPG1003-7 · #49454B · ΔE 3.54 · LRV 6
PPG1012-7 · #434B4F · ΔE 4.32 · LRV 7
PPG1043-7 · #484B5B · ΔE 4.61 · LRV 7
PPG1004-7 · #51484B · ΔE 6.13 · LRV 7

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.4
All gray at Kompozit →
0508 · #46474A · ΔE 2.4 · LRV 6
0536 · #454543 · ΔE 5.74 · LRV 6
0501 · #3C4D51 · ΔE 8.07 · LRV 7
1313 · #4F434E · ΔE 8.08 · LRV 6
1292 · #514555 · ΔE 9.03 · LRV 7

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.09
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 31 · #45494C · ΔE 3.09 · LRV 7
NO. 57 · #454749 · ΔE 3.2 · LRV 6
NO. 255 · #4F4A4A · ΔE 5.17 · LRV 7
NO. 30 · #3F4D57 · ΔE 5.56 · LRV 7
NO. 93 · #464C49 · ΔE 7.21 · LRV 7

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.95
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-DP-55 · #515052 · ΔE 3.95 · LRV 8
PNT100-DP-54 · #484745 · ΔE 5.55 · LRV 6
PNT100-DP-42 · #545E66 · ΔE 7.89 · LRV 11
PNT100-DP-77 · #604B56 · ΔE 11.74 · LRV 8
PNT100-MD-40 · #41656D · ΔE 14.96 · LRV 12

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.3
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-965 · #464646 · ΔE 4.3 · LRV 6
C2-789 · #4E4A55 · ΔE 4.48 · LRV 7
C2-741 · #414454 · ΔE 4.89 · LRV 6
C2-901 · #4C4C4A · ΔE 5.61 · LRV 7
C2-742 · #394853 · ΔE 5.93 · LRV 6

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 6.46
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-LC · #3F4458 · ΔE 6.46 · LRV 6
BD-AH · #3D423E · ΔE 8.11 · LRV 6
BD-WK · #3F546B · ΔE 9.02 · LRV 8
BD-NE · #3D4D3F · ΔE 14.63 · LRV 7
BD-IT · #5C4435 · ΔE 15.46 · LRV 7

Similar Dunn-Edwards colors

closest in the Dunn-Edwards deck

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

DEA188 · LRV 7
DE6343 · LRV 6
DE6322 · LRV 7
DEGR80 · LRV 6
DE5825 · LRV 7
DE6357 · LRV 6

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #474950 in HSL space. Pair Seared Ash with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#474950 + #504E47
TRIADIC
#474950 · #504749 · #495047
ANALOGOUS
#474E50 · #474950 · #4A4750

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
8.99:1 AAA
Sample text on black
2.34:1 fail

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

Dunn-Edwards Seared Ash Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Seared Ash 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 DESS31 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Seared Ash

The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Seared Ash is Witching Hour (2120-30). At ΔE 0.98 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 7). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Witching Hour and you'll get the same color. See the full Witching Hour swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Seared Ash

Behr's nearest match is Black Ribbon (HDC-CL-24), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Seared Ash without repainting risk. See the full Black Ribbon swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Seared Ash

Valspar's nearest match is Hematite (4006-2C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.62). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Seared Ash without repainting risk. See the full Hematite swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Seared Ash

Magnolia Home's nearest match is Fine Black (JG-144), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Seared Ash without repainting risk. See the full Fine Black swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Seared Ash

Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Octavius (0522), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Seared Ash without repainting risk. See the full Octavius swatch →

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Seared Ash

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Seared Ash is Cyberspace (SW 7076) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cyberspace swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Seared Ash

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Seared Ash is Anchored Blue (434-7DB) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Anchored Blue swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Seared Ash

At Kompozit, the closest color to Seared Ash is Midnight Magic (0508) — very close at ΔE 2.4, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Seared Ash

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Seared Ash is Railings (NO. 31) — very close at ΔE 3.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Railings swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Seared Ash

PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Seared Ash. The nearest is Black Forest (PPG1012-7) at ΔE 4.32 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black Forest swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Seared Ash

C2 Paint has no exact twin of Seared Ash. The nearest is Voodoo (C2-789) at ΔE 4.48 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Voodoo swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Seared Ash

Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Seared Ash — the nearest deck color, Blackish (PNT100-DP-54), is clearly different (ΔE 5.55). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DESS31 instead. See the full Blackish swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Seared Ash

Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Seared Ash — the nearest deck color, Last Call (BD-LC), is clearly different (ΔE 6.46). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DESS31 instead. See the full Last Call swatch →

EXPLORE MORE