Chelsea Gray
SW 2850 · #B6B7B0 · LRV 47 — neutral with no strong undertone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
What Color Is Chelsea Gray, Really?
Chelsea Gray reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 2850 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Chelsea Gray
Chelsea Gray 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.
How Lighting Changes Chelsea Gray
Chelsea Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 47, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about Chelsea Gray 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 2850 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Stone MillECC-27-2 · Behr | 1.4 | 47 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Bone BlackCW-715 · Benjamin Moore | 1.6 | 47 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Gray-Green Linen8004-30D · Valspar | 0.8 | 47 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Gray StonePPG1009-4 · PPG / Glidden | 1.7 | 48 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Dusty Miller50GY 45/037 · Glidden | 1.6 | 45 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Trout Gray426-4DB · Dutch Boy | 3.2 | 47 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Chelsea Gray within Sherwin-Williams'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 #B6B7B0 in HSL space. Pair Chelsea Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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