CP
DUTCH BOY · 444-5DB

Dutch Boy Deep Smolder#716A6E · LRV 15

Deep Smolder reads as a true neutral (no measurable hue) — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Dutch Boy 444-5DB actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUTCH BOY DEEP SMOLDER
RGB 113, 106, 110 LRV 15

Color spec

Brand Dutch Boy
Name Deep Smolder
SKU 444-5DB
Hex #716A6E
RGB 113, 106, 110
HSL 326°, 3%, 43%
LRV 15
Undertone true neutral (no measurable hue)
Family Gray

About Dutch Boy Deep Smolder

With an LRV of 15, Deep Smolder is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.

Deep Smolder works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. 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.

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.64
All gray at Valspar →
V125-5 · #6D696E · ΔE 1.64 · LRV 14.4
V126-5 · #766769 · ΔE 3.76 · LRV 14.5
M350 · #706A67 · ΔE 4.24 · LRV 14.8
1003-9B · #776867 · ΔE 4.27 · LRV 14.7
4003-2B · #736E6A · ΔE 5.22 · LRV 15.9

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.06
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DEGR13 · #6B676B · ΔE 2.06 · LRV 14
DE6390 · #6F6665 · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 13
DE6377 · #6C6B6A · ΔE 4.84 · LRV 14
DEBN72 · #6D6661 · ΔE 5.59 · LRV 14
DET611 · #6A6B67 · ΔE 7.47 · LRV 15

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.34
All gray at Behr →
740B-5 · #756A6B · ΔE 2.34 · LRV 15
MQ1-33 · #736A74 · ΔE 3.31 · LRV 15
T16-15 · #6A6A6F · ΔE 3.68 · LRV 15
HDC-CL-04G · #696B6D · ΔE 5.41 · LRV 15
770F-5 · #6A6D6F · ΔE 6.03 · LRV 15

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.42
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 7629 · #786E70 · ΔE 2.42 · LRV 16
SW 6263 · #736F78 · ΔE 3.33 · LRV 16
SW 9574 · #726F6C · ΔE 5.3 · LRV 16
SW 9560 · #656A6E · ΔE 6.87 · LRV 14
SW 7665 · #656D73 · ΔE 8.2 · LRV 15

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.43
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1003-6 · #6A656B · ΔE 2.43 · LRV 13
PPG1014-6 · #746765 · ΔE 4.08 · LRV 14
PPG1002-6 · #706B68 · ΔE 4.47 · LRV 15
PPG0996-6 · #707070 · ΔE 5.11 · LRV 16
PPG1009-6 · #6B6B65 · ΔE 8.07 · LRV 15

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.05
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
AF-640 · #796C6F · ΔE 3.05 · LRV 16
CSP-15 · #6C6B6D · ΔE 3.58 · LRV 15
CSP-120 · #6A6967 · ΔE 5.5 · LRV 16
1608 · #696D72 · ΔE 6.03 · LRV 16
2124-20 · #696D70 · ΔE 6.39 · LRV 16

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.19
All gray at Kompozit →
Emu
0549 · #756E6D · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 16
0521 · #6B6F78 · ΔE 6.05 · LRV 16
1305 · #7B6A77 · ΔE 6.43 · LRV 16
1319 · #686D7C · ΔE 7.35 · LRV 15
0513 · #687078 · ΔE 8.1 · LRV 16

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.03
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-147 · #6C6563 · ΔE 4.03 · LRV 13
JG-140 · #626663 · ΔE 8.89 · LRV 13
JG-159 · #737268 · ΔE 9.99 · LRV 17
JG-86 · #616F74 · ΔE 11.34 · LRV 15
JG-66 · #676B5E · ΔE 12.98 · LRV 14

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.6
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
H064 · #67636E · ΔE 4.6 · LRV 13
0528 · #6A6E70 · ΔE 6.66 · LRV 15
0570 · #776F64 · ΔE 8.7 · LRV 16
0584 · #676A64 · ΔE 9.44 · LRV 14
0493 · #637071 · ΔE 11.54 · LRV 15

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.93
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-983 · #717279 · ΔE 4.93 · LRV 17
C2-950 · #727272 · ΔE 5.41 · LRV 17
C2-966 · #666869 · ΔE 5.93 · LRV 14
C2-854 · #6F6C64 · ΔE 8.05 · LRV 15
C2-902 · #6F6A5C · ΔE 10.73 · LRV 14

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 5.41
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-DP-53 · #726460 · ΔE 5.41 · LRV 14
PNT100-DP-33 · #706473 · ΔE 6.16 · LRV 14
PNT100-MD-57 · #5B6682 · ΔE 12.1 · LRV 13
PNT100-DP-66 · #767665 · ΔE 13.75 · LRV 18
PNT100-DP-51 · #5A6964 · ΔE 13.93 · LRV 13

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 5.94
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 244 · #736660 · ΔE 5.94 · LRV 14
NO. 26 · #626664 · ΔE 8.23 · LRV 13
NO. 290 · #706556 · ΔE 10.51 · LRV 13
NO. 221 · #6E6656 · ΔE 11.32 · LRV 13
NO. 289 · #586768 · ΔE 12.85 · LRV 13

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 13.04
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-MJ · #5A6E7E · ΔE 13.04 · LRV 18
BD-BA · #7C5F47 · ΔE 14.9 · LRV 14
BD-TS · #7C5F47 · ΔE 14.9 · LRV 14
BD-HF · #7C8478 · ΔE 16.2 · LRV 22
BD-OS · #7E7C5C · ΔE 19.22 · LRV 18

Similar Dutch Boy colors

closest in the Dutch Boy deck

The nearest shades to Deep Smolder within Dutch Boy's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

445-5DB · LRV 16
443-6DB · LRV 14
436-6DB · LRV 16
443-5DB · LRV 15
439-5DB · LRV 16
343-6DB · LRV 16

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #716A6E in HSL space. Pair Deep Smolder with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#716A6E + #6A716D
TRIADIC
#716A6E · #6E716A · #6A6E71
ANALOGOUS
#716A71 · #716A6E · #716A6B

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
5.26:1 AA
Sample text on black
3.99:1 AA Large

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

Dutch Boy Deep Smolder Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Deep Smolder 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 Dutch Boy 444-5DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Valspar Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Valspar's nearest match is Wetbar (V125-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.64). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14.4 vs 15) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Deep Smolder without repainting risk. See the full Wetbar swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Deep Smolder

At Behr, the closest color to Deep Smolder is Bradford Brown (740B-5) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bradford Brown swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Deep Smolder

At Kompozit, the closest color to Deep Smolder is Emu (0549) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 15) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Emu swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Deep Smolder. The nearest is Arctic Seal (CSP-15) at ΔE 3.58 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Arctic Seal swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Deep Smolder. The nearest is Salvaged (JG-147) at ΔE 4.03 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 13 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Salvaged swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Deep Smolder

PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Deep Smolder. The nearest is Gibraltar Gray (PPG1002-6) at ΔE 4.47 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Gibraltar Gray swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Deep Smolder. The nearest is Boat Anchor (DE6377) at ΔE 4.84 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Boat Anchor swatch →

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Sherwin-Williams doesn't make a true equivalent of Deep Smolder — the nearest deck color, Hulett Ore (SW 9574), is clearly different (ΔE 5.3). For an exact match, any Sherwin-Williams retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 444-5DB instead. See the full Hulett Ore swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Deep Smolder — the nearest deck color, London Clay (NO. 244), is clearly different (ΔE 5.94). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 444-5DB instead. See the full London Clay swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Deep Smolder — the nearest deck color, Prince (PNT100-DP-33), is clearly different (ΔE 6.16). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 444-5DB instead. See the full Prince swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Deep Smolder — the nearest deck color, Greybeard (0528), is clearly different (ΔE 6.66). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 444-5DB instead. See the full Greybeard swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Deep Smolder

C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Deep Smolder — the nearest deck color, Wildwood (C2-854), is clearly different (ΔE 8.05). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 444-5DB instead. See the full Wildwood swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Deep Smolder

Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Deep Smolder — the nearest deck color, Mom Jeans (BD-MJ), is clearly different (ΔE 13.04). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 444-5DB instead. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →

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