Color spec
| Brand | Hirshfield's |
| Name | Dowager |
| SKU | 0442 |
| Hex | #838C82 |
| RGB | 131, 140, 130 |
| HSL | 114°, 4%, 53% |
| LRV | 27 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Hirshfield's Dowager
Dowager sits in the mid-range at LRV 27, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Dowager 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 Dowager 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 #838C82 in HSL space. Pair Dowager 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 Dowager Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Dowager 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 0442 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dowager
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Dowager. The nearest is Underseas (SW 6214) at ΔE 3.73 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Underseas swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Dowager
Behr's nearest match is Peaceful Glade (PPF-34), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.26). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dowager without repainting risk. See the full Peaceful Glade swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Dowager
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Carolina Gull (2138-40), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.03). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Dowager without repainting risk. See the full Carolina Gull swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Dowager
At Valspar, the closest color to Dowager is Beguile (5002-2A) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 24 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Beguile swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Dowager
PPG / Glidden doesn't make a true equivalent of Dowager — the nearest deck color, Downpour (PPG1010-5), is clearly different (ΔE 6.11). For an exact match, any PPG / Glidden retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0442 instead. See the full Downpour swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Dowager
At Glidden, the closest color to Dowager is Rockspring Green (50GY 26/050) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rockspring Green swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Dowager
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Dowager. The nearest is Cattails (427-5DB) at ΔE 3.73 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cattails swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dowager
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Dowager. The nearest is Valiant Blue (HGSW 3293) at ΔE 3.73 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Valiant Blue swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Dowager
Dunn-Edwards doesn't make a true equivalent of Dowager — the nearest deck color, Weathered Gray (DEGR74), is clearly different (ΔE 5.85). For an exact match, any Dunn-Edwards retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0442 instead. See the full Weathered Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Dowager
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Dowager is Eden (JG-60) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 24 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Eden swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Dowager
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Dowager is Card Room Green (NO. 79) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Card Room Green swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Dowager
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Dowager. The nearest is Paved Path (0582) at ΔE 4.01 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Paved Path swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Dowager
Rodda has no exact twin of Dowager. The nearest is Willow (CA171) at ΔE 4.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Willow swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Dowager
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Dowager is Pond Ripple (BD82) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pond Ripple swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Dowager
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Dowager — the nearest deck color, Dirty Chai (PNT100-DP-52), is clearly different (ΔE 8.86). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0442 instead. See the full Dirty Chai swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Dowager
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Dowager — the nearest deck color, Voodoo (VOODOO), is clearly different (ΔE 13.95). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0442 instead. See the full Voodoo swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Dowager
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Dowager — the nearest deck color, Coco (COCO), is clearly different (ΔE 12.81). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0442 instead. See the full Coco swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Dowager
At Backdrop, the closest color to Dowager is Hartford (BD-HF) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 22 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hartford swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Dowager
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Dowager — the nearest deck color, Oat Latte (391446), is clearly different (ΔE 8.78). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0442 instead. See the full Oat Latte swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Dowager
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Dowager is Dowager (0442). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). If Kompozit is your counter, order Dowager and you'll get the same color. See the full Dowager swatch →