Deep Smolder
444-5DB · #716A6E · LRV 15 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Urbane Bronze8
- 2Deep Smolder15
- 3Retreat21
- 4Stardew43
What Color Is Deep Smolder, Really?
Deep Smolder reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 444-5DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Deep Smolder
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.
How Lighting Changes 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.
Most complaints about Deep Smolder 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 444-5DB 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Bradford Brown740B-5 · Behr | 2.3 | 15 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Arctic SealCSP-15 · Benjamin Moore | 3.6 | 15 | Color page → |
| Valspar | WetbarV125-5 · Valspar | 1.6 | 14.4 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Gibraltar GrayPPG1002-6 · PPG / Glidden | 4.5 | 15 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Grey Tabby00NN 16/000 · Glidden | 3.9 | 16 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Smoky PurpleHGSW 3393 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 3.3 | 16 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
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.
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 #716A6E in HSL space. Pair Deep Smolder with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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