Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Allegory |
| SKU | SW 9553 |
| Hex | #B4B2A9 |
| RGB | 180, 178, 169 |
| HSL | 49°, 7%, 68% |
| LRV | 45 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Allegory
Allegory sits in the mid-range at LRV 45, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its yellow 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.
Allegory is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
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.
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
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Allegory within Sherwin-Williams'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 #B4B2A9 in HSL space. Pair Allegory 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.
Sherwin-Williams Allegory Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Allegory 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 9553 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Allegory
The closest Behr equivalent of Allegory is Silver Tinsel (UL200-7). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). If Behr is your counter, order Silver Tinsel and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Tinsel swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Allegory
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Allegory is Silver Fox (2108-50) — very close at ΔE 2.52, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Fox swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Allegory
Valspar's nearest match is Soulful Grey (6004-1B), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45.6 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Allegory without repainting risk. See the full Soulful Grey swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Allegory
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Allegory is Mercurial (PPG1006-4) — very close at ΔE 2.63, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mercurial swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Allegory
At Glidden, the closest color to Allegory is Mercurial (PPG1006-4) — very close at ΔE 2.63, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mercurial swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Allegory
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Allegory is Sultry Gray (442-3DB) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sultry Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Allegory
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Allegory is Requisite Gray (HGSW 2466) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Requisite Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Allegory
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Throwing Shade (DEGR45), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.69). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Allegory without repainting risk. See the full Throwing Shade swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Allegory
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Cupola (JG-14), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It runs slightly darker (LRV 42 vs 45) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Allegory without repainting risk. See the full Cupola swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Allegory
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Lamp Room Gray (NO. 88), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.28). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Allegory without repainting risk. See the full Lamp Room Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Allegory
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Allegory. The nearest is Smoky Wings (0553) at ΔE 4.32 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Smoky Wings swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Allegory
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Allegory is Praise Giving (0540) — very close at ΔE 2.94, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Praise Giving swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Allegory
At Rodda, the closest color to Allegory is Putty (CA073) — very close at ΔE 2.86, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Putty swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Allegory
C2 Paint's nearest match is Hypnotic (C2-973), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.11). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Allegory without repainting risk. See the full Hypnotic swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Allegory
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Allegory is Aberdeen (ABERDEEN) — very close at ΔE 2.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aberdeen swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Allegory
At Kompozit, the closest color to Allegory is Praise Giving (0540) — very close at ΔE 2.94, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Praise Giving swatch →