Shaded Forest
427-7DB · #414E4E · LRV 7 — cool blue-green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Cordovan Brown0
- 2Shaded Forest7
What Color Is Shaded Forest, Really?
Shaded Forest reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 427-7DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Shaded Forest
Shaded Forest 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.
How Lighting Changes Shaded Forest
At LRV 7, Shaded Forest 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 teal 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 Shaded Forest 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 427-7DB 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 | TarragonSW 9660 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.3 | 7 | Color page → |
| Behr | Dominant GrayBXC-17 · Behr | 2.3 | 7 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Stonecutter2135-20 · Benjamin Moore | 3.0 | 8 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Slate Court5001-4C · Valspar | 1.5 | 7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Black ForestPPG1012-7 · PPG / Glidden | 4.0 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Night WatchPPG1145-7 · Glidden | 2.9 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Shaded Forest 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 #414E4E in HSL space. Pair Shaded Forest with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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