Just Barely
402-3DB · #B4A39E · LRV 38 — warm red tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Anonymous20
- 2Felted Wool28
- 3Just Barely38
- 4Agreeable Gray60
- 5Balboa Mist66
What Color Is Just Barely, Really?
Just Barely reads as a warm red tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 402-3DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Just Barely
Just Barely is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
How Lighting Changes Just Barely
Just Barely sits in the mid-range at LRV 38, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its red 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about Just Barely 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 402-3DB 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 | Flexible GraySW 6010 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.7 | 38 | Color page → |
| Behr | Plum TaupeN130-4 · Behr | 1.6 | 38 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Mauve Desert2113-50 · Benjamin Moore | 3.5 | 38 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Embarrassed Shadow8004-5D · Valspar | 0.9 | 39 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | AwakeningPPG18-05 · PPG / Glidden | 4.5 | 38 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Felted GrayHGSW 3425 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 1.7 | 38 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Just Barely 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 #B4A39E in HSL space. Pair Just Barely with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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