Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Stepping Stone |
| SKU | DEBN71 |
| Hex | #B3AE99 |
| RGB | 179, 174, 153 |
| HSL | 48°, 15%, 65% |
| LRV | 42 |
| Undertone | yellow / warm |
| Family | Neutral |
About Dunn-Edwards Stepping Stone
Stepping Stone sits in the mid-range at LRV 42, 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.
Stepping Stone 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 at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 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
Sherwin-Williams
Diamond Vogel
Valspar
Benjamin Moore
Farrow & Ball
Kompozit
C2 Paint
Dutch Boy
PPG / Glidden
Magnolia Home
Clare
Backdrop
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Stepping Stone 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 #B3AE99 in HSL space. Pair Stepping Stone 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 Stepping Stone Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Stepping Stone 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 DEBN71 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Stepping Stone
The closest Behr equivalent of Stepping Stone is Desert Sandstorm (BXC-43). At ΔE 0.56 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 42). If Behr is your counter, order Desert Sandstorm and you'll get the same color. See the full Desert Sandstorm swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Stepping Stone
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Meander (SW 9522), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Stepping Stone without repainting risk. See the full Meander swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Stepping Stone
Valspar's nearest match is Soothing Sage (8004-23C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Stepping Stone without repainting risk. See the full Soothing Sage swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Stepping Stone
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is French Gray (NO. 18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Stepping Stone without repainting risk. See the full French Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Stepping Stone
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Finnie Gray (CW-55), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Stepping Stone without repainting risk. See the full Finnie Gray swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Stepping Stone
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Stepping Stone is Missing Link (C2-894) — very close at ΔE 2.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Missing Link swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Stepping Stone
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Stepping Stone is Shale Ridge (421-3DB) — very close at ΔE 2.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shale Ridge swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Stepping Stone
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Stepping Stone is Salem Clay (H107) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 40 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Salem Clay swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Stepping Stone
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Stepping Stone is Drawing Room (JG-157) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Drawing Room swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Stepping Stone
At Kompozit, the closest color to Stepping Stone is Travertine Path (0345) — very close at ΔE 3.05, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Travertine Path swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Stepping Stone
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Stepping Stone is True Khaki (PPG14-27) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 42) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full True Khaki swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Stepping Stone
Clare has no exact twin of Stepping Stone. The nearest is Money Moves (PNT100-MD-48) at ΔE 4.89 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 42). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Money Moves swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Stepping Stone
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Stepping Stone — the nearest deck color, Le Freak (BD-LF), is clearly different (ΔE 5.78). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEBN71 instead. See the full Le Freak swatch →