Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | How Handsome |
| SKU | 1040-4 |
| Hex | #A0AEB8 |
| RGB | 160, 174, 184 |
| HSL | 205°, 14%, 67% |
| LRV | 41 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About PPG / Glidden How Handsome
How Handsome sits in the mid-range at LRV 41, 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.
How Handsome 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 by brand
17 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. 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
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to How Handsome within PPG / Glidden'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 #A0AEB8 in HSL space. Pair How Handsome 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.
PPG / Glidden How Handsome Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching How Handsome 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 PPG / Glidden 1040-4 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of How Handsome
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of How Handsome. The nearest is Aqua-Sphere (SW 7613) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aqua-Sphere swatch →
Behr Equivalent of How Handsome
At Behr, the closest color to How Handsome is Power Gray (N530-4) — very close at ΔE 2.5, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Power Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of How Handsome
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of How Handsome is Little Falls (1621). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Little Falls and you'll get the same color. See the full Little Falls swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of How Handsome
Valspar's nearest match is Hibernate (8004-41C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.08). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for How Handsome without repainting risk. See the full Hibernate swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of How Handsome
The closest Glidden equivalent of How Handsome is Set in Stone (PPG1040-4). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41). If Glidden is your counter, order Set in Stone and you'll get the same color. See the full Set in Stone swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of How Handsome
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of How Handsome is Fogged In (433-3DB). At ΔE 0.49 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Fogged In and you'll get the same color. See the full Fogged In swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of How Handsome
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of How Handsome. The nearest is Interesting Aqua (HGSW 3305) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Interesting Aqua swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of How Handsome
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Irogon Blue (DEC796), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1). It runs slightly darker (LRV 37 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for How Handsome without repainting risk. See the full Irogon Blue swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of How Handsome
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to How Handsome is Kittiwake (NO. 307) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Kittiwake swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of How Handsome
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to How Handsome is Chicago Skyline (0631) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Chicago Skyline swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of How Handsome
Hirshfield's's nearest match is In the Blue (0504), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for How Handsome without repainting risk. See the full In the Blue swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of How Handsome
The closest Rodda equivalent of How Handsome is Sheer Clouds (R087). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41). If Rodda is your counter, order Sheer Clouds and you'll get the same color. See the full Sheer Clouds swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of How Handsome
C2 Paint's nearest match is Argyle (C2-751), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.3). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for How Handsome without repainting risk. See the full Argyle swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of How Handsome
At Backdrop, the closest color to How Handsome is Underdog (BD-UD) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Underdog swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of How Handsome
Kompozit's nearest match is In the Blue (0504), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for How Handsome without repainting risk. See the full In the Blue swatch →