Color spec
| Brand | HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Architectural Gray |
| SKU | HGSW 3426 |
| Hex | #C2B6B6 |
| RGB | 194, 182, 182 |
| HSL | 0°, 9%, 74% |
| LRV | 48 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| Family | Gray |
About HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Architectural Gray
Architectural Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 48, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its red 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.
Architectural Gray 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 at every US brand
14 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Dutch Boy
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
PPG / Glidden
Behr
Valspar
Diamond Vogel
Kompozit
Clare
Farrow & Ball
Magnolia Home
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Architectural Gray within HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams'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 #C2B6B6 in HSL space. Pair Architectural Gray 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.
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Architectural Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Architectural Gray 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3426 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Architectural Gray
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Architectural Gray is Imagine (SW 6009). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Imagine and you'll get the same color. See the full Imagine swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Flutter By (403-2DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.02). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Architectural Gray without repainting risk. See the full Flutter By swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Victorian Mauve (2114-50), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.17). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Architectural Gray without repainting risk. See the full Victorian Mauve swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Young Fawn (DE6038), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It runs slightly darker (LRV 44 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Architectural Gray without repainting risk. See the full Young Fawn swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Architectural Gray
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Luxurious (PPG18-04), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Architectural Gray without repainting risk. See the full Luxurious swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Architectural Gray
At Behr, the closest color to Architectural Gray is Moonlit Mauve (N130-3) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Moonlit Mauve swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Architectural Gray
At Valspar, the closest color to Architectural Gray is Sun Painter (8004-2C) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sun Painter swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Architectural Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Architectural Gray is North Island (0552) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full North Island swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Architectural Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Architectural Gray is North Island (0552) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full North Island swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Clare has no exact twin of Architectural Gray. The nearest is Greige (PNT100-LT-13) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greige swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Architectural Gray. The nearest is Pink Drab (NO. 207) at ΔE 4.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Pink Drab swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Architectural Gray
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Architectural Gray — the nearest deck color, Filament (C2-798), is clearly different (ΔE 5.39). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3426 instead. See the full Filament swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Architectural Gray — the nearest deck color, Sunday Stroll (JG-19), is clearly different (ΔE 7.32). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3426 instead. See the full Sunday Stroll swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Architectural Gray
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Architectural Gray — the nearest deck color, Underdog (BD-UD), is clearly different (ΔE 14.29). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3426 instead. See the full Underdog swatch →