Violaceous
R106 · #5E5B5D · LRV 11 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Cyberspace6
- 2Violaceous11
- 3Retreat21
- 4Dovetail26
What Color Is Violaceous, Really?
Violaceous reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Rodda R106 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Violaceous
Violaceous works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Violaceous
With an LRV of 11, Violaceous is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Violaceous 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 Rodda R106 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 | Forged SteelSW 9565 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.5 | 10 | Color page → |
| Behr | Coffee BarT14-10 · Behr | 2.3 | 11 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | MythicCSP-510 · Benjamin Moore | 3.5 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Forge8004-48F · Valspar | 4.2 | 11 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | ZombiePPG1010-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.2 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | ZombiePPG1010-7 · Glidden | 2.5 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Rodda Colors
The nearest shades to Violaceous within Rodda'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 #5E5B5D in HSL space. Pair Violaceous with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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