Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Downing Stone |
| SKU | SW 2821 |
| Hex | #A6A397 |
| RGB | 166, 163, 151 |
| HSL | 48°, 8%, 62% |
| LRV | 36 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Downing Stone
Downing Stone sits in the mid-range at LRV 36, 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.
Downing Stone 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.
Closest matches by brand
17 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 gray 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
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Downing Stone 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 #A6A397 in HSL space. Pair Downing Stone 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 Downing Stone Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Downing Stone 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 2821 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Downing Stone
Behr's nearest match is Espresso Martini (N210-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Espresso Martini swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Downing Stone
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Rockport Gray (HC-105), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Rockport Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Downing Stone
At Valspar, the closest color to Downing Stone is Graceful Gray (8006-2E) — very close at ΔE 2.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Graceful Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Downing Stone
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Downing Stone is Aldabra (PPG14-28) — very close at ΔE 2.53, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aldabra swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Downing Stone
At Glidden, the closest color to Downing Stone is Aldabra (PPG14-28) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aldabra swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Downing Stone
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Downing Stone is Poised Neutral (440-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Poised Neutral swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Downing Stone
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Downing Stone is Intellectual Gray (HGSW 3485) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Intellectual Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Downing Stone
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Sycamore Bark (DEGR33), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Sycamore Bark swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Downing Stone
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Quaint Cottage (JG-114), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Downing Stone
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Downing Stone. The nearest is Light Gray (NO. 17) at ΔE 3.98 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 36). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Light Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Downing Stone
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Downing Stone is Cloudy Today (0568) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cloudy Today swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Downing Stone
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Shark Fin (0574), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Downing Stone
At Rodda, the closest color to Downing Stone is Secret Arbor (R068) — very close at ΔE 3.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Secret Arbor swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Downing Stone
C2 Paint's nearest match is Motley (C2-797), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Motley swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Downing Stone
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Downing Stone. The nearest is La Catedral (LA CATEDRAL) at ΔE 3.82 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 34 vs 36). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full La Catedral swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Downing Stone
Backdrop has no exact twin of Downing Stone. The nearest is Nuevo (BD-NU) at ΔE 3.67 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 36). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Downing Stone
Kompozit's nearest match is Shark Fin (0574), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Downing Stone without repainting risk. See the full Shark Fin swatch →