Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Oyster Cracker |
| SKU | PPG1085-2 |
| Hex | #E5DABA |
| RGB | 229, 218, 186 |
| HSL | 45°, 45%, 81% |
| LRV | 73 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About PPG / Glidden Oyster Cracker
PPG Oyster Cracker (PPG1085-2) is a soft warm cream. At an LRV of 73 it sits high on the light scale, so it reads almost as a soft white across a room, but it carries a clear gold-and-cream warmth rather than the cool blue-white of a bright builder white. The color has real warmth in it, not just a whisper, which is why it looks like a natural, lived-in off-white rather than a stark one.
It is popular because it is PPG's go-to soft-white-with-a-cream-cast trim color. That makes it easy to specify: it frames doors, casings and cabinets without fighting the wall color, and it flatters wood tones and warm floors.
Oyster Cracker suits homes that want light and airy without going cold. Think traditional and transitional interiors, warm-wood trim, and anyone who finds pure white too clinical but does not want a heavy beige.
Closest matches by brand
18 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 neutral from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Oyster Cracker 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 #E5DABA in HSL space. Pair Oyster Cracker 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 Oyster Cracker Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Oyster Cracker 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 PPG1085-2 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Roycroft Vellum (SW 2833) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Roycroft Vellum swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
The closest Behr equivalent of Oyster Cracker is Lemon Balm (PPU8-13). At ΔE 0.49 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 70 vs 73). If Behr is your counter, order Lemon Balm and you'll get the same color. See the full Lemon Balm swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Oyster Cracker is Almond Bisque (269). At ΔE 0.52 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 73). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Almond Bisque and you'll get the same color. See the full Almond Bisque swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
The closest Valspar equivalent of Oyster Cracker is Tempered Sage (6006-5A). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 69.5 vs 73). If Valspar is your counter, order Tempered Sage and you'll get the same color. See the full Tempered Sage swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
Glidden's nearest match is At The Beach (PPG12-28), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It runs slightly darker (LRV 70 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Oyster Cracker without repainting risk. See the full At The Beach swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Grass Cloth (224-1DB) — very close at ΔE 3.46, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 73) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grass Cloth swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Celery (HGSW 2237) — very close at ΔE 3.46, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 73) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Celery swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Flowering Reed (DET636), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.03). It runs slightly darker (LRV 68 vs 73) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Oyster Cracker without repainting risk. See the full Flowering Reed swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Oyster Cracker. The nearest is Morning Snow (JG-167) at ΔE 3.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 70 vs 73). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Morning Snow swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Pale Hound (NO. 71) — very close at ΔE 2.35, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 72 vs 73) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pale Hound swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Golden Syrup (0881) — very close at ΔE 2.41, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Golden Syrup swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Trade Secret (0314) — very close at ΔE 2.51, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 68 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Trade Secret swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Rodda, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Cornbread (CA122) — very close at ΔE 3.49, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 69 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cornbread swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
C2 Paint's nearest match is Canvas (C2-865), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 72 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Oyster Cracker without repainting risk. See the full Canvas swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Backdrop, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Cookies & Cream (BD-CC) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 73 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cookies & Cream swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Sandstone (398641) — very close at ΔE 2.24, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 68 vs 73) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sandstone swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Oyster Cracker
At Kompozit, the closest color to Oyster Cracker is Trade Secret (0314) — very close at ΔE 2.51, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 70 vs 73) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Trade Secret swatch →
Oyster Cracker Color Guide
Oyster Cracker Undertones
Oyster Cracker leans warm, toward a soft gold-and-cream cast. This is not a near-neutral that only hints at color. Its warmth is genuine enough to show on a wall, especially over large surfaces where any undertone builds up. Next to a crisp bright white it will look distinctly creamy and a touch yellow.
The warmth shows most in daylight and under warm bulbs, and it can pick up a faint buttery quality in a sunny room. Where it can surprise you is against cool finishes. Put it beside a gray-blue tile, a stark white quartz, or cool LED light and the cream cast reads stronger by contrast.
Test it by taping a sample next to a pure white trim and against your flooring and countertops. If the white makes Oyster Cracker look yellow and that bothers you, drop to a cleaner off-white. If it looks soft and warm, it is doing its job.
How Lighting Changes Oyster Cracker
With an LRV of 73, Oyster Cracker bounces a lot of light back into a room, so it stays bright without going clinical. But the exposure decides how warm that brightness feels.
In north-facing rooms, which get cool, indirect light, the warmth is an asset. It keeps the space from feeling gray and flat and reads as a gentle soft white. East-facing rooms give warm morning light that makes it glow, then cooler afternoons where it settles down. West-facing rooms flip that, cooler mornings and rich golden evenings that can push the cream toward butter.
South-facing rooms get the most sun, and there the gold warmth is amplified all day, so make sure you want that. On bulbs, warm 2700K light deepens the cream, while neutral 3500K to 4000K light keeps it looking more like a clean off-white. Always view your sample at the times you actually use the room.
Best Rooms and Uses for Oyster Cracker
Because its LRV is high, Oyster Cracker is a whole-home light color, not a statement shade. It works as a wall color throughout open plans, hallways and bedrooms where you want warmth and light at the same time. It is forgiving in rooms with limited natural light, since it will not go dull or cold.
It truly earns its keep as trim, doors and cabinets. As a soft-white-with-a-cream-cast trim color it pairs with warmer walls without the harsh line a bright white can create, and on kitchen or bath cabinets it gives a mellow, furniture-like finish that hides wear better than a stark white.
On exteriors it makes a warm, low-glare body or trim color for traditional homes and works well with stone and brick. Save the bold contrast for the front door and shutters, and let Oyster Cracker be the calm backdrop.
Colors That Go With Oyster Cracker
For crisp trim against Oyster Cracker walls, use Pure White (PPG1001-1) at LRV 88 or Glidden White on White (GLN-29) at LRV 88. Both are much lighter and cleaner, so they read as true white next to the cream and give you a defined edge on casings and ceilings.
For a soft, tonal companion wall or a cabinet-and-wall pairing, Cape Cod Cottage (PPG1006-2) at LRV 73 sits right alongside it, while Antique White (PPG1015-2) at LRV 78 is a slightly lighter warm neutral. To add depth, Stone Beige (PPG1024-3) at LRV 49 makes a grounded second color for an island, built-ins or a lower wall.
For accents and front doors, go dark and saturated: Mariner Blue (PPG1162-7) at LRV 8 or Black Magic (PPG1001-7) at LRV 4 both give strong contrast. Warm woods, brass and aged bronze all suit its gold cast.
Oyster Cracker vs Similar Colors
Oyster Cracker (PPG1085-2, LRV 73) lives in a tight family of warm PPG creams, and the differences are subtle but real on a wall.
At The Beach (PPG12-28, LRV 70) and Deserted Beach (PPG1104-3, LRV 71) are close cousins. Both are a hair deeper, so they feel slightly more sandy and grounded, while Oyster Cracker stays a touch lighter and reads closer to a soft white. If you want the color to disappear into brightness, Oyster Cracker wins; if you want a little more presence, the beaches do.
Irresistible (PPG1094-1, LRV 72) is nearly the same lightness but leans a little cleaner and less gold, so it is a good swap if Oyster Cracker looks too yellow in your light. Sandcastle Symphony (PPG12-32, LRV 69) is the warmest and deepest of the group, better as a full wall color than as trim. Sample two or three side by side, since photos flatten these distinctions.
PPG / Glidden Oyster Cracker — frequently asked questions
Is Oyster Cracker warm or cool?+
Oyster Cracker is warm. It is a soft cream with a gold-and-cream cast rather than a cool blue-white. Its warmth is genuine enough to show on a wall, especially over large surfaces, and it reads clearly creamy next to a bright white. In sunny, south-facing rooms or under warm bulbs the warmth deepens toward butter, so view a sample in your own light before committing.
Is Oyster Cracker more of a cream or a white?+
It sits between the two. With an LRV of 73 it is light enough to act like a soft white across a room, but it carries a real cream and gold warmth, so it is not a true white. Next to a bright white like Pure White (PPG1001-1) at LRV 88 it clearly looks like a warm cream. Think of it as an off-white with a cream cast, not a stark white.
What trim white goes with Oyster Cracker?+
Use a much cleaner, lighter white so the edge reads crisp. Pure White (PPG1001-1) at LRV 88 or Glidden White on White (GLN-29) at LRV 88 both work well, since they are far brighter than Oyster Cracker and give casings and ceilings a defined line. If you want a softer, warmer transition instead, Antique White (PPG1015-2) at LRV 78 is a gentler companion.
Does Oyster Cracker work on cabinets and exteriors?+
Yes. On kitchen and bath cabinets it gives a mellow, furniture-like finish with a cream cast that hides everyday wear better than a stark white. On exteriors it makes a warm, low-glare body or trim color for traditional homes and pairs nicely with stone and brick. Let it stay the calm backdrop and reserve bold contrast for the front door or shutters.
What does an LRV of 73 mean for Oyster Cracker?+
LRV, or light reflectance value, runs from 0 (black) to 100 (pure white). At 73 Oyster Cracker reflects a lot of light, so it brightens a room and helps small or dim spaces feel more open, without going stark or clinical. It is firmly a light, whole-home color rather than a dark statement shade, which is why it also works so well as trim.
How is Oyster Cracker different from At The Beach?+
They are close cousins in the same warm PPG cream family. At The Beach (PPG12-28) has an LRV of 70 versus Oyster Cracker's 73, so it is a touch deeper and reads slightly more sandy and grounded. Oyster Cracker stays a hair lighter and closer to a soft white. Choose At The Beach for a little more presence, and Oyster Cracker when you want the color to melt into brightness.