Empire Gold
SW 12 · #C19F6E · LRV 37 — warm red-orange tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Thai Curry21
- 2Peristyle Brass30
- 3Empire Gold37
- 4Honey Tea52
- 5Jackfruit62
What Color Is Empire Gold, Really?
Empire Gold reads as a warm red-orange tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 12 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Empire Gold
Empire Gold 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 Empire Gold
Empire Gold sits in the mid-range at LRV 37, 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 Empire Gold 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 12 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 | Ground CuminUL180-24 · Behr | 1.0 | 36 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Barley Harvest1070 · Benjamin Moore | 2.3 | 35 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Western WearM139 · Valspar | 2.1 | 36.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Good LifePPG1090-5 · PPG / Glidden | 1.1 | 38 | Color page → |
| Glidden | A Touch Of Gold20YY 37/293 · Glidden | 1.0 | 37 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Sahara Sands315-4DB · Dutch Boy | 2.4 | 37 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Empire Gold 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 #C19F6E in HSL space. Pair Empire Gold with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Empire Gold?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question