Violet Aurora
243-7DB · #3E385A · LRV 5 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Violet Aurora5
- 2Blue Nova17
- 3Gothic Purple24
What Color Is Violet Aurora, Really?
Violet Aurora reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 243-7DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Violet Aurora
Violet Aurora earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
How Lighting Changes Violet Aurora
At LRV 5, Violet Aurora 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 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Violet Aurora 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 243-7DB 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 | DewberrySW 6552 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 5 | Color page → |
| Behr | Deep MulberryBXC-51 · Behr | 1.1 | 5 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Blue GrottoCC-964 · Benjamin Moore | 4.3 | 6 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Patrician PurpleM224 · Valspar | 3.5 | 3.8 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Amethyst GlassHGSW 2411 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 5 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Magic NightDEA191 · Dunn-Edwards | 2.7 | 5 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Violet Aurora 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 #3E385A in HSL space. Pair Violet Aurora with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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