Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Mertie Kay |
| SKU | 425-7DB |
| Hex | #455049 |
| RGB | 69, 80, 73 |
| HSL | 142°, 7%, 29% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | green / cool |
| 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 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 black from that brand.
Kompozit
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
C2 Paint
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Benjamin Moore
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Diamond Vogel
Clare
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Mertie Kay. The nearest is Studio Green (NO. 93) at ΔE 3.64 — 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 Studio Green 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Mertie Kay — the nearest deck color, Dark River (0494), is clearly different (ΔE 5.53). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 425-7DB instead. See the full Dark River swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Mertie Kay
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Mertie Kay — the nearest deck color, Andromeda (C2-901), is clearly different (ΔE 6.9). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 425-7DB instead. See the full Andromeda swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Mertie Kay
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Mertie Kay — the nearest deck color, Blackest (PNT100-DP-55), is clearly different (ΔE 9.25). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 425-7DB instead. See the full Blackest swatch →