Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Emerging Taupe |
| SKU | SW 6045 |
| Hex | #B8A196 |
| RGB | 184, 161, 150 |
| HSL | 19°, 19%, 65% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Emerging Taupe
Emerging Taupe sits in the mid-range at LRV 38, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its red 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.
Emerging Taupe 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
15 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
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Emerging Taupe 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 #B8A196 in HSL space. Pair Emerging Taupe 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 Emerging Taupe Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Emerging Taupe 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 6045 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Behr has no exact twin of Emerging Taupe. The nearest is Eiffel For You (MQ2-37) at ΔE 3.5 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Eiffel For You swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Emerging Taupe. The nearest is Quietude (CSP-230) at ΔE 4.38 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Quietude swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Valspar's nearest match is Poetry in Motion (T573), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.25). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38.7 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Emerging Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Poetry in Motion swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Wright Stone Grey (FLLW858), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.62). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Emerging Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Wright Stone Grey swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Glidden doesn't make a true equivalent of Emerging Taupe — the nearest deck color, Awakening (PPG18-05), is clearly different (ΔE 5). For an exact match, any Glidden retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 6045 instead. See the full Awakening swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Emerging Taupe is Hennepin Stone (407-3DB) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hennepin Stone swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Emerging Taupe is Emerging Taupe (HGSW 3035). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Emerging Taupe and you'll get the same color. See the full Emerging Taupe swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Emerging Taupe. The nearest is Hickory (DEC759) at ΔE 4.66 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 35 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hickory swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Natchez (0133), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Emerging Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Natchez swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Cozy Cover (0140), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.04). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Emerging Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Cozy Cover swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Rodda has no exact twin of Emerging Taupe. The nearest is Clay (CA047) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Clay swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Emerging Taupe is Mesa (C2-813) — very close at ΔE 2.19, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mesa swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Emerging Taupe is Havana (HAVANA) — very close at ΔE 2.18, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Havana swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Emerging Taupe
Kompozit's nearest match is Cozy Cover (0140), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.04). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Emerging Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Cozy Cover swatch →