Diode
420-7DB · #5C4D3C · LRV 8 — warm red-orange tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Polished Mahogany3
- 2Diode8
- 3Porpoise13
- 4Cavern Clay20
What Color Is Diode, Really?
Diode reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 420-7DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Diode
Diode earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Diode
At LRV 8, Diode 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. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Diode 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 420-7DB 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 | Status BronzeSW 7034 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 8 | Color page → |
| Behr | Roasted NutsUL130-2 · Behr | 4.5 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Ferret Brown2108-10 · Benjamin Moore | 2.6 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Roasted Sepia6006-2C · Valspar | 0.7 | 8.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Afternoon TeaPPG1023-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.2 | 8 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Afternoon TeaPPG1023-7 · Glidden | 2.2 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Diode 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 #5C4D3C in HSL space. Pair Diode with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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