Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Expressive Plum |
| SKU | SW 6271 |
| Hex | #695C62 |
| RGB | 105, 92, 98 |
| HSL | 332°, 7%, 39% |
| LRV | 12 |
| Undertone | warm magenta tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Expressive Plum
With an LRV of 12, Expressive Plum is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its magenta 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Expressive Plum works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
9 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
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Annie Sloan
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Expressive Plum 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 #695C62 in HSL space. Pair Expressive Plum 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 Expressive Plum Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Expressive Plum 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 6271 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Expressive Plum
Behr has no exact twin of Expressive Plum. The nearest is River Rocks (N130-6) at ΔE 4.06 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full River Rocks swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Expressive Plum
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Mountain Ridge (1456), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Expressive Plum without repainting risk. See the full Mountain Ridge swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Expressive Plum
At Valspar, the closest color to Expressive Plum is Double Infinity (8004-1F) — very close at ΔE 3.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Double Infinity swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Expressive Plum
Glidden has no exact twin of Expressive Plum. The nearest is Phantom Hue (PPG1004-6) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Phantom Hue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Expressive Plum
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Expressive Plum is Tender Hearted (446-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tender Hearted swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Expressive Plum
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Expressive Plum is Expressive Plum (HGSW 3402). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm magenta undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Expressive Plum and you'll get the same color. See the full Expressive Plum swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Expressive Plum
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Expressive Plum. The nearest is Muted Mulberry (H0064) at ΔE 4.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Muted Mulberry swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Expressive Plum
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Expressive Plum. The nearest is Rich Loam (BD21) at ΔE 3.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rich Loam swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Expressive Plum
At Annie Sloan, the closest color to Expressive Plum is Rodmell (RODMELL) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rodmell swatch →