Simmer Down
Simmer Down · #BAB3B6 · LRV 46 — neutral with no strong undertone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
What Color Is Simmer Down, Really?
Simmer Down reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Portola Paints Simmer Down behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Simmer Down
Simmer Down 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.
How Lighting Changes Simmer Down
Simmer Down sits in the mid-range at LRV 46, 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.
Most complaints about Simmer Down 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 Portola Paints Simmer Down 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 | Veiled VioletSW 6268 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.9 | 47 | Color page → |
| Behr | Winter Cocoa730B-4 · Behr | 1.0 | 46 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | NightingaleAF-670 · Benjamin Moore | 4.1 | 46 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Frisky Whiskers8004-1C · Valspar | 0.9 | 46 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Silver BellsPPG1003-3 · PPG / Glidden | 0.9 | 46 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Hazy Grey30RR 46/018 · Glidden | 0.5 | 46 | Color page → |
Similar Portola Paints Colors
The nearest shades to Simmer Down within Portola Paints'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 #BAB3B6 in HSL space. Pair Simmer Down with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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