CP

Dutch Boy Taboo Blue340-3DB · #AEB7C4 · LRV 47

Taboo Blue reads as a cool blue tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what Dutch Boy 340-3DB actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUTCH BOY TABOO BLUE
RGB 174, 183, 196LRV 47

Color spec

BrandDutch Boy
NameTaboo Blue
SKU340-3DB
Hex#AEB7C4
RGB174, 183, 196
HSL215°, 16%, 73%
LRV47
Undertonecool blue tone
FamilyGray
See Dutch Boy Taboo Blue on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Dutch Boy Taboo Blue

Taboo Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 47, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its blue 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.

Taboo Blue is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.

Closest matches by brand

17 brands within ΔE 5

The 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

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.92
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9683 · #ADB8C0 · ΔE 2.92 · LRV 47
SW 6240 · #AABAC6 · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 48
SW 6248 · #ADB5B9 · ΔE 4.39 · LRV 45

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.12
All gray at Behr →
PPU15-16 · #ADBBCB · ΔE 2.12 · LRV 49
PPU14-12 · #ADBAC5 · ΔE 2.38 · LRV 48
ICC-45 · #AAB7C1 · ΔE 2.7 · LRV 46
HDC-SP14-10 · #A9B8CB · ΔE 2.7 · LRV 47

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.81
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
1438 · #B3B9C7 · ΔE 1.81 · LRV 49
2128-50 · #ACBAC8 · ΔE 2.05 · LRV 48
1627 · #ACB7C0 · ΔE 2.46 · LRV 46
ES-31 · #A9B5BC · ΔE 3.76 · LRV 45

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.51
All gray at Valspar →
4003-3C · #AEB6C3 · ΔE 0.51 · LRV 46.5
T671 · #AAB5BF · ΔE 2.12 · LRV 45.1
V138-3 · #AAB7BF · ΔE 3.53 · LRV 46.2
4005-3B · #A7BAC9 · ΔE 3.74 · LRV 47.7

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.14
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1042-4 · #AAB5C4 · ΔE 1.14 · LRV 46
PPG1043-4 · #B0B3BE · ΔE 2.78 · LRV 45
PPG10-14 · #B0BCC2 · ΔE 4.26 · LRV 49
PPG1169-4 · #AFB2C4 · ΔE 4.37 · LRV 45

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.47
All gray at Glidden →
10BB 47/077 · #AEB7C5 · ΔE 0.47 · LRV 47
PPG1042-4 · #ABB5C4 · ΔE 1.01 · LRV 46
30BB 45/049 · #B0B4BE · ΔE 2.3 · LRV 45
70BG 47/045 · #AFB9C0 · ΔE 3.18 · LRV 47
HGSW 3356 · #AABAC6 · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 48
HGSW 6240 · #AABAC6 · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 48
HGSW 3365 · #ADB5B9 · ΔE 4.39 · LRV 45
HGSW 6248 · #ADB5B9 · ΔE 4.39 · LRV 45

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.49
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DE6339 · #B0B9C1 · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 44
DE6332 · #ACB8C1 · ΔE 2.76 · LRV 44
DE5919 · #AEB5C7 · ΔE 2.8 · LRV 43
DE5821 · #A7B8C4 · ΔE 3.55 · LRV 43

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.12
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 27 · #B0BEC6 · ΔE 4.12 · LRV 50

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.8
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0511 · #AEB3B8 · ΔE 3.8 · LRV 45
0518 · #B9BABF · ΔE 4.52 · LRV 49
1317 · #B3B2BC · ΔE 4.75 · LRV 45

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.07
All gray at Hirshfield's →
1317 · #AEAFB9 · ΔE 4.07 · LRV 45
0518 · #B6B8BD · ΔE 4.12 · LRV 49
0588 · #A7BAD3 · ΔE 4.79 · LRV 50

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.78
All gray at Rodda →
R097 · #B3BEC5 · ΔE 3.78 · LRV 51

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.95
All gray at C2 Paint →
BD18 · #A4B5BD · ΔE 4.95 · LRV 45

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.61
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-MD-73 · #ADBECB · ΔE 3.61 · LRV 50

Annie Sloan

31 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.28
All gray at Annie Sloan →
LOUIS BLUE · #AEBECB · ΔE 3.28 · LRV 50

Rust-Oleum

16 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.94
All gray at Rust-Oleum →
285143 · #B6B9BE · ΔE 3.94 · LRV 48

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.07
All gray at Kompozit →
1317 · #AEAFB9 · ΔE 4.07 · LRV 43
0518 · #B6B8BD · ΔE 4.12 · LRV 48
0588 · #A7BAD3 · ΔE 4.79 · LRV 48

Similar Dutch Boy colors

closest in the Dutch Boy deck

The nearest shades to Taboo Blue within Dutch Boy's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

342-3DB · LRV 45
341-3DB · LRV 46
343-3DB · LRV 46
431-2DB · LRV 46
337-3DB · LRV 45
242-2DB · LRV 50

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #AEB7C4 in HSL space. Pair Taboo Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#AEB7C4 + #C4BBAE
TRIADIC
#AEB7C4 · #C4AEB7 · #B7C4AE
ANALOGOUS
#AEC2C4 · #AEB7C4 · #B0AEC4

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.03:1fail
Sample text on black
10.37:1AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dutch Boy Taboo Blue Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Taboo Blue 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 340-3DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Taboo Blue

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Taboo Blue is Lakeside (SW 9683) — very close at ΔE 2.92, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Lakeside swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Taboo Blue

At Behr, the closest color to Taboo Blue is Calming Space (ICC-45) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Calming Space swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Taboo Blue

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Taboo Blue is Manor Blue (1627) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Manor Blue swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Taboo Blue

The closest Valspar equivalent of Taboo Blue is Misty Morning Dew (4003-3C). At ΔE 0.51 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46.5 vs 47). If Valspar is your counter, order Misty Morning Dew and you'll get the same color. See the full Misty Morning Dew swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Taboo Blue

PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Blue Beard (PPG1042-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.14). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Taboo Blue without repainting risk. See the full Blue Beard swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Taboo Blue

The closest Glidden equivalent of Taboo Blue is Silver Night Blue (10BB 47/077). At ΔE 0.47 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 47). If Glidden is your counter, order Silver Night Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Night Blue swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Taboo Blue

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Taboo Blue is Ocean's Side (HGSW 3356) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean's Side swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Taboo Blue

At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Taboo Blue is Glen Falls (DE6332) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 44 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Glen Falls swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Parma Gray (NO. 27) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Parma Gray swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Buffed Plum (1317) at ΔE 4.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 45 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Buffed Plum swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Let It Rain (0518) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Let It Rain swatch →

Rodda Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Rodda has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Kefi (R097) at ΔE 3.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 51 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Kefi swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Clare has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Cloud Watching (PNT100-MD-73) at ΔE 3.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cloud Watching swatch →

Annie Sloan Equivalent of Taboo Blue

At Annie Sloan, the closest color to Taboo Blue is Louis Blue (LOUIS BLUE) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Louis Blue swatch →

Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Aged Gray (285143) at ΔE 3.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aged Gray swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Taboo Blue

Kompozit has no exact twin of Taboo Blue. The nearest is Let It Rain (0518) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Let It Rain swatch →

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