CP

Farrow & Ball LichenNo. 19 · #9C9F89 · LRV 34

Lichen reads as a warm yellow tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what Farrow & Ball No. 19 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

FARROW & BALL LICHEN
RGB 156, 159, 137LRV 34

Color spec

BrandFarrow & Ball
NameLichen
SKUNo. 19
Hex#9C9F89
RGB156, 159, 137
HSL68°, 10%, 58%
LRV34
Undertonewarm yellow tone
FamilyGray
See Farrow & Ball Lichen on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Farrow & Ball Lichen

Lichen sits in the mid-range at LRV 34, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its yellow 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.

Lichen 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

18 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 3.85
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 7728 · #A29F80 · ΔE 3.85 · LRV 34
SW 9127 · #9E9985 · ΔE 4.27 · LRV 32

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.62
All gray at Behr →
BNC-24 · #989C83 · ΔE 1.62 · LRV 32
BXC-10 · #A1A18E · ΔE 2.1 · LRV 35
N220-4 · #9F9F90 · ΔE 3.26 · LRV 34
PMD-57 · #A59E89 · ΔE 4.96 · LRV 34

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.61
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
HC-113 · #9C9E87 · ΔE 0.61 · LRV 33
1496 · #9A9C87 · ΔE 1.04 · LRV 32
CC-560 · #9A9C87 · ΔE 1.04 · LRV 32
1503 · #A39F87 · ΔE 3.29 · LRV 34

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.42
All gray at Valspar →
T617 · #95A088 · ΔE 3.42 · LRV 33.4
5003-1C · #969D8F · ΔE 3.51 · LRV 32.8

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.09
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1126-5 · #9DA287 · ΔE 2.09 · LRV 35
PPG1030-4 · #9CA38A · ΔE 2.24 · LRV 35
PPG1028-4 · #A2A290 · ΔE 2.51 · LRV 36

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.37
All gray at Glidden →
PPG1126-5 · #9DA286 · ΔE 2.37 · LRV 35
PPG1028-4 · #A1A18F · ΔE 2.38 · LRV 35
PPG1030-4 · #9CA389 · ΔE 2.41 · LRV 35
60YY 33/130 · #A29D86 · ΔE 3.77 · LRV 33

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.13
All gray at Dutch Boy →
424-3DB · #9BA28F · ΔE 2.13 · LRV 35
327-4DB · #929D84 · ΔE 3.72 · LRV 32
325-3DB · #979F7F · ΔE 4.02 · LRV 33
HGSW 3255 · #9FA694 · ΔE 2.97 · LRV 37
HGSW 6192 · #9FA694 · ΔE 2.97 · LRV 37
HGSW 3284 · #969C92 · ΔE 4.98 · LRV 32
HGSW 9132 · #969C92 · ΔE 4.98 · LRV 32

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.58
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DET517 · #9A9E88 · ΔE 0.58 · LRV 33
DEC777 · #9DA28E · ΔE 1.39 · LRV 33
DE6257 · #9C9C82 · ΔE 2.05 · LRV 30
DEC781 · #959E8F · ΔE 3.62 · LRV 31

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.79
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-57 · #979A82 · ΔE 1.79 · LRV 31

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.77
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0428 · #989F83 · ΔE 2.77 · LRV 33
0379 · #A4A089 · ΔE 3.35 · LRV 35
0422 · #999A8D · ΔE 3.99 · LRV 32
H082 · #929D81 · ΔE 4.13 · LRV 30

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.23
All gray at Hirshfield's →
H0081 · #9C9D85 · ΔE 1.23 · LRV 33
0435 · #99A38E · ΔE 3.04 · LRV 36
0379 · #9F9B84 · ΔE 3.38 · LRV 33
0415 · #9E9F7D · ΔE 3.99 · LRV 35

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.06
All gray at Rodda →
CA172 · #969B82 · ΔE 2.06 · LRV 31
CA155 · #A09A87 · ΔE 4.83 · LRV 32

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.89
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-683 · #9CA088 · ΔE 0.89 · LRV 34
C2-682 · #9B9F8E · ΔE 1.91 · LRV 34
C2-940 · #9A9C8E · ΔE 3.29 · LRV 33
C2-955 · #9E9E90 · ΔE 3.63 · LRV 34

Portola Paints

69 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.33
All gray at Portola Paints →
BRONSON · #999985 · ΔE 2.33 · LRV 31

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.77
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-LF · #A4AB95 · ΔE 3.77 · LRV 35

Rust-Oleum

16 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.57
All gray at Rust-Oleum →
371674 · #A5A78F · ΔE 2.57 · LRV 38

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.04
All gray at Kompozit →
0435 · #99A38E · ΔE 3.04 · LRV 35
0379 · #9F9B84 · ΔE 3.38 · LRV 32
0415 · #9E9F7D · ΔE 3.99 · LRV 34

Similar Farrow & Ball colors

closest in the Farrow & Ball deck

The nearest shades to Lichen within Farrow & Ball's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

No. 25 · LRV 34
No. 12 · LRV 33
No. 81 · LRV 35
No. 83 · LRV 35
No. 284 · LRV 33
No. 265 · LRV 35

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #9C9F89 in HSL space. Pair Lichen with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#9C9F89 + #8C899F
TRIADIC
#9C9F89 · #899C9F · #9F899C
ANALOGOUS
#9F9789 · #9C9F89 · #919F89

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.72:1fail
Sample text on black
7.73:1AAA

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

Farrow & Ball Lichen Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Lichen 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 Farrow & Ball No. 19 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Lichen

Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Lichen. The nearest is Green Sprout (SW 7728) at ΔE 3.85 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Green Sprout swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Lichen

At Behr, the closest color to Lichen is Warm Stone (BXC-10) — very close at ΔE 2.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Warm Stone swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Lichen

The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Lichen is Louisburg Green (HC-113). At ΔE 0.61 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Louisburg Green and you'll get the same color. See the full Louisburg Green swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Lichen

At Valspar, the closest color to Lichen is Bushel (T617) — very close at ΔE 3.42, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33.4 vs 34) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bushel swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Lichen

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Lichen is Zebra Grass (PPG1126-5) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zebra Grass swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Lichen

Glidden has no exact twin of Lichen. The nearest is Khaki Green (60YY 33/130) at ΔE 3.77 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Khaki Green swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Lichen

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Lichen is Mossed Thicket (424-3DB) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mossed Thicket swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Lichen

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Lichen. The nearest is Thorntree (HGSW 3284) at ΔE 4.98 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Thorntree swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Lichen

The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Lichen is Flagstone Quartzite (DET517). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Flagstone Quartzite and you'll get the same color. See the full Flagstone Quartzite swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Lichen

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Lichen is Lucky Day (0428) — very close at ΔE 2.77, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Lucky Day swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Lichen

Hirshfield's's nearest match is Wainscot Green (H0081), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Lichen without repainting risk. See the full Wainscot Green swatch →

Rodda Equivalent of Lichen

Rodda has no exact twin of Lichen. The nearest is Anise (CA155) at ΔE 4.83 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Anise swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Lichen

The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Lichen is Lilypad (C2-683). At ΔE 0.89 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Lilypad and you'll get the same color. See the full Lilypad swatch →

Portola Paints Equivalent of Lichen

At Portola Paints, the closest color to Lichen is Bronson (BRONSON) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 31 vs 34) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bronson swatch →

Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Lichen

At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Lichen is Tate Green (371674) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 34) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tate Green swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Lichen

At Kompozit, the closest color to Lichen is Orestes (0379) — very close at ΔE 3.38, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 34) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Orestes swatch →

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