Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Mertie Kay |
| SKU | 425-7DB |
| Hex | #455049 |
| RGB | 69, 80, 73 |
| HSL | 142°, 7%, 29% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | cool green tone |
| Family | Black |
About Dutch Boy Mertie Kay
At LRV 7, Mertie Kay 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 green 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.
Mertie Kay earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
Closest matches by brand
15 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all black from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Mertie Kay 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 #455049 in HSL space. Pair Mertie Kay 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 Mertie Kay Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Mertie Kay 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 425-7DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Mertie Kay. The nearest is Rock Bottom (SW 7062) at ΔE 4.48 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rock Bottom swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Mertie Kay
At Behr, the closest color to Mertie Kay is New Forest (QE-48) — very close at ΔE 2.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full New Forest swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Mertie Kay. The nearest is Deep River (1582) at ΔE 4.58 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Deep River swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Mertie Kay
At Valspar, the closest color to Mertie Kay is Sable Calm (5002-2C) — very close at ΔE 3.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7.3 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sable Calm swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Mertie Kay
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Mertie Kay is Charcoal Smoke (PPG1033-7) — very close at ΔE 2.98, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charcoal Smoke swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Mertie Kay
At Glidden, the closest color to Mertie Kay is Charcoal Smoke (PPG1033-7) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charcoal Smoke swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Mertie Kay
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Mertie Kay. The nearest is Rock Bottom (HGSW 1501) at ΔE 4.48 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rock Bottom swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Mertie Kay
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Mertie Kay is Moss Cottage (DET608) — very close at ΔE 3.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Moss Cottage swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Mertie Kay. The nearest is Cottage Grove (JG-161) at ΔE 3.97 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cottage Grove swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Carriage Green (NO. 94), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Mertie Kay without repainting risk. See the full Carriage Green swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Mertie Kay
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Mertie Kay is Green Column (0466). At ΔE 0.6 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 10 vs 7). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Green Column and you'll get the same color. See the full Green Column swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Backdrop has no exact twin of Mertie Kay. The nearest is North End (BD-NE) at ΔE 4.45 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full North End swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Mertie Kay
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Mertie Kay is Green Column (0466). At ΔE 0.6 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). If Kompozit is your counter, order Green Column and you'll get the same color. See the full Green Column swatch →