Downing Straw
SW 2813 · #CAAB7D · LRV 43 — warm red-orange tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Thai Curry21
- 2Empire Gold37
- 3Downing Straw43
- 4Honey Tea52
- 5Jackfruit62
What Color Is Downing Straw, Really?
Downing Straw reads as a warm red-orange tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 2813 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Downing Straw
Downing Straw is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Yellows lift kitchens, hallways and kids' rooms with warmth.
How Lighting Changes Downing Straw
Downing Straw sits in the mid-range at LRV 43, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange 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.
Most complaints about Downing Straw 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 2813 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 | Flax StrawS300-4 · Behr | 0.8 | 43 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Bridgewater Tan1096 · Benjamin Moore | 1.6 | 44 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Castell Harlech8003-21D · Valspar | 1.5 | 43 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Wright Dark EggshellFLLW726 · PPG / Glidden | 3.0 | 44 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Golden Needles20YY 41/264 · Glidden | 1.1 | 41 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Cork Bark217-4DB · Dutch Boy | 1.8 | 42 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Downing Straw 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 #CAAB7D in HSL space. Pair Downing Straw with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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