Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Allegory |
| SKU | SW 9553 |
| Hex | #B4B2A9 |
| RGB | 180, 178, 169 |
| HSL | 49°, 7%, 68% |
| LRV | 45 |
| Undertone | yellow / warm |
| 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 at every US brand
13 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 neutral from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
C2 Paint
Valspar
Farrow & Ball
Magnolia Home
Dunn-Edwards
PPG / Glidden
Kompozit
Dutch Boy
Diamond Vogel
Backdrop
Clare
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Clare Equivalent of Allegory
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Allegory — the nearest deck color, Money Moves (PNT100-MD-48), is clearly different (ΔE 5.64). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9553 instead. See the full Money Moves swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Allegory
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Allegory — the nearest deck color, Underdog (BD-UD), is clearly different (ΔE 9.93). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9553 instead. See the full Underdog swatch →