Softened Coal
438-5DB · #65615E · LRV 12 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
What Color Is Softened Coal, Really?
Softened Coal reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 438-5DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Softened Coal
Softened Coal works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Softened Coal
With an LRV of 12, Softened Coal is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Softened Coal 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 438-5DB 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 | BraintreeSW 9595 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.5 | 12 | Color page → |
| Behr | HematiteN460-6 · Behr | 3.5 | 12 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | City ShadowCSP-60 · Benjamin Moore | 3.5 | 13 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Night Skyscraper8004-3F · Valspar | 4.2 | 12 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Dark WoodsPPG0999-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.0 | 12 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Dark WoodsPPG0999-7 · Glidden | 1.4 | 12 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Softened Coal 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 #65615E in HSL space. Pair Softened Coal with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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