Color spec
| Brand | Hirshfield's |
| Name | Cystern |
| SKU | 0511 |
| Hex | #A9B0B6 |
| RGB | 169, 176, 182 |
| HSL | 208°, 8%, 69% |
| LRV | 44 |
| Undertone | blue / cool |
| Family | Gray |
About Hirshfield's Cystern
Cystern sits in the mid-range at LRV 44, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its blue 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.
Cystern 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
20 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
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Hirshfield's colors
closest in the Hirshfield's deckThe nearest shades to Cystern within Hirshfield's'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 #A9B0B6 in HSL space. Pair Cystern 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.
Hirshfield's Cystern Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Cystern 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 Hirshfield's 0511 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Cystern
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Cystern is Stardew (SW 9138) — very close at ΔE 3.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 44) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stardew swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Cystern
Behr's nearest match is Intercoastal Gray (MQ5-23), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.84). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Cystern without repainting risk. See the full Intercoastal Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Cystern
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Pigeon Gray (2133-50), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.4). It runs slightly darker (LRV 42 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Cystern without repainting risk. See the full Pigeon Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Cystern
Valspar's nearest match is Granite Fog (8006-8C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.67). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Cystern without repainting risk. See the full Granite Fog swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Cystern
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Cystern is Mirror Mirror (PPG1039-3) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 44) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mirror Mirror swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Cystern
Glidden's nearest match is Gosling Gray (PPG0993-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It runs slightly darker (LRV 42 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Cystern without repainting risk. See the full Gosling Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Cystern
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Payphone (434-3DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It runs slightly darker (LRV 41 vs 44) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Cystern without repainting risk. See the full Payphone swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Cystern
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Cystern is Blue Mountaintop (HGSW 3325) — very close at ΔE 3.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 44) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Mountaintop swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Cystern
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Cystern is Yreka! (DET594) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 44) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Yreka! swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Cystern
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Cystern. The nearest is Tranquil Waters (JG-162) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 44). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tranquil Waters swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Cystern
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Cystern — the nearest deck color, Lamp Room Gray (NO. 88), is clearly different (ΔE 7.07). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0511 instead. See the full Lamp Room Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Cystern
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Cystern (0511), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.3). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Cystern without repainting risk. See the full Cystern swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Cystern
At Rodda, the closest color to Cystern is Zinc (CA193) — very close at ΔE 2.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 44) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zinc swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Cystern
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Cystern is Argyle (C2-751) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 42 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Argyle swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Cystern
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Cystern — the nearest deck color, Make Waves (PNT100-MD-43), is clearly different (ΔE 9.23). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0511 instead. See the full Make Waves swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Cystern
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Cystern — the nearest deck color, Simmer Down (SIMMER DOWN), is clearly different (ΔE 7.2). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0511 instead. See the full Simmer Down swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Cystern
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Cystern — the nearest deck color, Paloma (PALOMA), is clearly different (ΔE 8.86). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0511 instead. See the full Paloma swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Cystern
Backdrop has no exact twin of Cystern. The nearest is Underdog (BD-UD) at ΔE 4.25 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 41 vs 44). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Underdog swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Cystern
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Cystern is Aged Gray (285143) — very close at ΔE 3.24, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 44) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aged Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Cystern
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Cystern is Cystern (0511). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 44). If Kompozit is your counter, order Cystern and you'll get the same color. See the full Cystern swatch →