Subterranean
HGSW 3221 · #5A5243 · LRV 9 — warm red-orange tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Black Bean4
- 2Subterranean9
- 3Cavern Clay20
- 4Redend Point30
What Color Is Subterranean, Really?
Subterranean reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3221 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Subterranean
Subterranean earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Subterranean
At LRV 9, Subterranean 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 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Subterranean 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3221 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 | Muddled BasilSW 7745 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 9 | Color page → |
| Behr | Potting SoilN360-7 · Behr | 2.5 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Dakota Woods Green2139-20 · Benjamin Moore | 3.0 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Olive Smudge6001-2C · Valspar | 2.5 | 8.8 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Star AnisePPG1022-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.8 | 9 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Star AnisePPG1022-7 · Glidden | 2.6 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Subterranean 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.
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 #5A5243 in HSL space. Pair Subterranean with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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