Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Desert Varnish |
| SKU | 312-6DB |
| Hex | #B37754 |
| RGB | 179, 119, 84 |
| HSL | 22°, 38%, 52% |
| LRV | 23 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Brown |
About Dutch Boy Desert Varnish
With an LRV of 23, Desert Varnish is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Desert Varnish works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
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 brown from that brand.
Valspar
Kompozit
Dunn-Edwards
Benjamin Moore
Diamond Vogel
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Backdrop
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Desert Varnish within Dutch Boy'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 #B37754 in HSL space. Pair Desert Varnish 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.
Dutch Boy Desert Varnish Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Desert Varnish 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 312-6DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Valspar Equivalent of Desert Varnish
The closest Valspar equivalent of Desert Varnish is Terra Cotta Trail (2005-7B). At ΔE 0.8 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 23.6 vs 23). If Valspar is your counter, order Terra Cotta Trail and you'll get the same color. See the full Terra Cotta Trail swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Kompozit's nearest match is Semolina (1011), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Desert Varnish without repainting risk. See the full Semolina swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Outlawed Orange (DET465), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Desert Varnish without repainting risk. See the full Outlawed Orange swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Firenze (AF-225), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.83). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Desert Varnish without repainting risk. See the full Firenze swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Desert Varnish
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Desert Varnish is Spiced Cider (SW 7702) — very close at ΔE 2.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Spiced Cider swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Desert Varnish
At Behr, the closest color to Desert Varnish is Copper Mine (PMD-41) — very close at ΔE 2.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Copper Mine swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Desert Varnish
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Desert Varnish is Orange Ballad (1019) — very close at ΔE 2.42, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Orange Ballad swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Desert Varnish
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Desert Varnish is Fresh Praline (PPG16-21) — very close at ΔE 3.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fresh Praline swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Desert Varnish
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Desert Varnish. The nearest is Sahara (C2-572) at ΔE 3.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sahara swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Desert Varnish. The nearest is Work Worn Wood (JG-35) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 21 vs 23). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Work Worn Wood swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Desert Varnish — the nearest deck color, Fox Red (NO. 48), is clearly different (ΔE 5.12). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 312-6DB instead. See the full Fox Red swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Desert Varnish — the nearest deck color, Fire Sign (PNT100-DP-74), is clearly different (ΔE 7.22). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 312-6DB instead. See the full Fire Sign swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Desert Varnish
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Desert Varnish — the nearest deck color, Old Soul (BD-OS), is clearly different (ΔE 20.87). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 312-6DB instead. See the full Old Soul swatch →