Color spec
| Brand | HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Intellectual Gray |
| SKU | HGSW 3485 |
| Hex | #A8A093 |
| RGB | 168, 160, 147 |
| HSL | 37°, 11%, 62% |
| LRV | 36 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Neutral |
About HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Intellectual Gray
Intellectual Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 36, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange 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.
Intellectual Gray is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
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 neutral from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Dutch Boy
Behr
Diamond Vogel
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
Kompozit
Valspar
Magnolia Home
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
Clare
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Intellectual 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 #A8A093 in HSL space. Pair Intellectual 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 Intellectual Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Intellectual 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 3485 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Intellectual Gray (SW 7045). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Intellectual Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Intellectual Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Poised Neutral (440-4DB). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Poised Neutral and you'll get the same color. See the full Poised Neutral swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Behr equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Jackal (T12-12). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Behr is your counter, order Jackal and you'll get the same color. See the full Jackal swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Wood Shadow (0205). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Wood Shadow and you'll get the same color. See the full Wood Shadow swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Intellectual Gray is River Reflections (1552). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order River Reflections and you'll get the same color. See the full River Reflections swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Feldspar (DEGR31). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Feldspar and you'll get the same color. See the full Feldspar swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Drifting Sand (0218). At ΔE 0.86 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36). If Kompozit is your counter, order Drifting Sand and you'll get the same color. See the full Drifting Sand swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Gray Silt (6002-1C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35.9 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual Gray without repainting risk. See the full Gray Silt swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Quaint Cottage (JG-114), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual Gray without repainting risk. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Simmering Smoke (PPG1019-4) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Simmering Smoke swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Aggregate (C2-956) — very close at ΔE 2.75, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aggregate swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At Backdrop, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Carry the Two (BD-CT) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 33 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Carry the Two swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Intellectual Gray — the nearest deck color, Dead Salmon (NO. 28), is clearly different (ΔE 6). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3485 instead. See the full Dead Salmon swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Intellectual Gray — the nearest deck color, Set In Stone (PNT100-LT-15), is clearly different (ΔE 10.19). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3485 instead. See the full Set In Stone swatch →