Universal Khaki
HGSW 3185 · #B8A992 · LRV 40 — warm red-orange tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Anonymous20
- 2Felted Wool28
- 3Universal Khaki40
- 4Agreeable Gray60
- 5Pale Oak69
What Color Is Universal Khaki, Really?
Universal Khaki reads as a warm red-orange tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 3185 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Universal Khaki
Universal Khaki 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.
How Lighting Changes Universal Khaki
Universal Khaki sits in the mid-range at LRV 40, 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.
Most complaints about Universal Khaki 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 3185 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 | Universal KhakiSW 6150 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 40 | Color page → |
| Behr | Canyon OuvertN300-4 · Behr | 1.3 | 41 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | PensiveAF-140 · Benjamin Moore | 2.5 | 42 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Earthy BeigeM351 · Valspar | 1.0 | 40.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Prairie DustPPG1102-4 · PPG / Glidden | 1.2 | 41 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Prairie DustPPG1102-4 · Glidden | 2.1 | 41 | Color page → |
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Universal Khaki 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 #B8A992 in HSL space. Pair Universal Khaki with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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