Dark and Stormy
436-7DB · #535556 · LRV 9 — neutral with no strong undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Dark and Stormy9
- 2Kendall Charcoal15
- 3Retreat21
What Color Is Dark and Stormy, Really?
Dark and Stormy reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 436-7DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Dark and Stormy
Dark and Stormy 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.
How Lighting Changes Dark and Stormy
At LRV 9, Dark and Stormy 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.
Most complaints about Dark and Stormy 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.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Dutch Boy 436-7DB 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.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | PeppercornSW 7674 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.7 | 10 | Color page → |
| Behr | Orion GrayN510-6 · Behr | 1.3 | 9 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Deep Space2125-20 · Benjamin Moore | 1.9 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | To the TarmacV116-3 · Valspar | 2.2 | 8.8 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Black WidowPPG0997-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.0 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Black WidowPPG0997-7 · Glidden | 1.9 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Dark and Stormy within Dutch Boy's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
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 #535556 in HSL space. Pair Dark and Stormy with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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