Color spec
| Brand | Portola Paints |
| Name | Simmer Down |
| SKU | Simmer Down |
| Hex | #BAB3B6 |
| RGB | 186, 179, 182 |
| HSL | 334°, 5%, 72% |
| LRV | 46 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Portola Paints 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.
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.
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
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Portola Paints colors
closest in the Portola Paints deckThe 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.
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.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Portola Paints Simmer Down Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Simmer Down 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 Portola Paints Simmer Down directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Simmer Down
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Simmer Down is Veiled Violet (SW 6268). At ΔE 0.95 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm magenta undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 46). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Veiled Violet and you'll get the same color. See the full Veiled Violet swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Simmer Down
The closest Behr equivalent of Simmer Down is Winter Cocoa (730B-4). At ΔE 0.99 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46). If Behr is your counter, order Winter Cocoa and you'll get the same color. See the full Winter Cocoa swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Simmer Down
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Simmer Down. The nearest is Nightingale (AF-670) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Nightingale swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Simmer Down
The closest Valspar equivalent of Simmer Down is Frisky Whiskers (8004-1C). At ΔE 0.94 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46). If Valspar is your counter, order Frisky Whiskers and you'll get the same color. See the full Frisky Whiskers swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Simmer Down
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Simmer Down is Silver Bells (PPG1003-3). At ΔE 0.94 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Silver Bells and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Bells swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Simmer Down
The closest Glidden equivalent of Simmer Down is Hazy Grey (30RR 46/018). At ΔE 0.51 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46). If Glidden is your counter, order Hazy Grey and you'll get the same color. See the full Hazy Grey swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Simmer Down
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Gracious Gray (444-2DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.42). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Simmer Down without repainting risk. See the full Gracious Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Simmer Down
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Simmer Down is High Note (HGSW 3406). At ΔE 0.95 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm magenta undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 46). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order High Note and you'll get the same color. See the full High Note swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Simmer Down
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Heliotrope Gray (DEGR78), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 46) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Simmer Down without repainting risk. See the full Heliotrope Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Simmer Down
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Simmer Down — the nearest deck color, Sunday Stroll (JG-19), is clearly different (ΔE 7.72). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Portola Paints Simmer Down instead. See the full Sunday Stroll swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Simmer Down
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Simmer Down. The nearest is Dove Tale (NO. 267) at ΔE 4.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 44 vs 46). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dove Tale swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Simmer Down
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Simmer Down. The nearest is Praise Giving (0540) at ΔE 3.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 46). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Praise Giving swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Simmer Down
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Simmer Down is North Island (0552) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 46) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full North Island swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Simmer Down
At Rodda, the closest color to Simmer Down is Hue is the Artist? (R115) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 46) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hue is the Artist? swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Simmer Down
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Simmer Down. The nearest is Bella Donna (C2-782) at ΔE 3.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 46). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bella Donna swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Simmer Down
Clare has no exact twin of Simmer Down. The nearest is Greige (PNT100-LT-13) at ΔE 4.84 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 46). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greige swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Simmer Down
At Annie Sloan, the closest color to Simmer Down is Paloma (PALOMA) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 46) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Paloma swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Simmer Down
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Simmer Down — the nearest deck color, Underdog (BD-UD), is clearly different (ΔE 11.64). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Portola Paints Simmer Down instead. See the full Underdog swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Simmer Down
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Simmer Down — the nearest deck color, Aged Gray (285143), is clearly different (ΔE 5.06). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Portola Paints Simmer Down instead. See the full Aged Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Simmer Down
At Kompozit, the closest color to Simmer Down is North Island (0552) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 46) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full North Island swatch →