Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Steely Expression |
| SKU | 435-6DB |
| Hex | #5D6265 |
| RGB | 93, 98, 101 |
| HSL | 202°, 4%, 38% |
| LRV | 12 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Dutch Boy Steely Expression
With an LRV of 12, Steely Expression 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.
Steely Expression 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.
Closest matches by brand
16 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Steely Expression 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 #5D6265 in HSL space. Pair Steely Expression 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 Steely Expression Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Steely Expression 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 435-6DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Steely Expression
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Steely Expression is Grays Harbor (SW 6236) — very close at ΔE 2.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grays Harbor swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Steely Expression
Behr's nearest match is Blue Metal (HDC-AC-25), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Blue Metal swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Steely Expression
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Bracken Slate (CW-690), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Bracken Slate swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Steely Expression
Valspar's nearest match is Weathervane (M360), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12.1 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Weathervane swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Steely Expression
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Glazed Granite (PPG1011-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.7). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Glazed Granite swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Steely Expression
Glidden's nearest match is Glazed Granite (PPG1011-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.7). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Glazed Granite swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Steely Expression
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Steely Expression is Tempest Skies (HGSW 3332) — very close at ΔE 2.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tempest Skies swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Steely Expression
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Sheet Metal (DE6356), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.72). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Sheet Metal swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Steely Expression
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Steely Expression is Texas Storm (JG-142) — very close at ΔE 2.95, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Texas Storm swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Steely Expression
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Steely Expression is Down Pipe (NO. 26) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Down Pipe swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Steely Expression
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Steely Expression. The nearest is Deep Sea Shadow (0480) at ΔE 4.34 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Deep Sea Shadow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Steely Expression
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Steely Expression. The nearest is Tornado Wind (0584) at ΔE 4.19 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tornado Wind swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Steely Expression
Rodda's nearest match is Ash Bed (CA209), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.12). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Steely Expression without repainting risk. See the full Ash Bed swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Steely Expression
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Steely Expression is Weathervane (BD20) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Weathervane swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Steely Expression
At Clare, the closest color to Steely Expression is Goodnight Moon (PNT100-DP-42) — very close at ΔE 3.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Goodnight Moon swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Steely Expression
Kompozit has no exact twin of Steely Expression. The nearest is Tornado Wind (0584) at ΔE 4.19 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tornado Wind swatch →