Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Frosted Fern |
| SKU | SW 9648 |
| Hex | #A7A796 |
| RGB | 167, 167, 150 |
| HSL | 60°, 9%, 62% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Frosted Fern
Frosted Fern 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 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.
Frosted Fern 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
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Frosted Fern 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 #A7A796 in HSL space. Pair Frosted Fern 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 Frosted Fern Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Frosted Fern 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 9648 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Frosted Fern
The closest Behr equivalent of Frosted Fern is Simply Sage (PPU10-16). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If Behr is your counter, order Simply Sage and you'll get the same color. See the full Simply Sage swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Frosted Fern. The nearest is Chateau (CSP-140) at ΔE 3.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chateau swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Valspar's nearest match is Afternoon Nap (T679), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.69). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 39.5 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Frosted Fern without repainting risk. See the full Afternoon Nap swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Frosted Fern
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Frosted Fern is Wandering Willow (PPG1031-3). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Wandering Willow and you'll get the same color. See the full Wandering Willow swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Frosted Fern
The closest Glidden equivalent of Frosted Fern is Wandering Willow (PPG1031-3). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If Glidden is your counter, order Wandering Willow and you'll get the same color. See the full Wandering Willow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Frosted Fern
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Frosted Fern is Greywood (423-3DB) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Greywood swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Frosted Fern
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Frosted Fern is Rare Gray (HGSW 3275) — very close at ΔE 2.55, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rare Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Whale Watching (DET512), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Frosted Fern without repainting risk. See the full Whale Watching swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Frosted Fern. The nearest is Quaint Cottage (JG-114) at ΔE 3.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Frosted Fern. The nearest is Light Gray (NO. 17) at ΔE 4.94 — 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 Light Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Frosted Fern. The nearest is Shark Fin (0574) at ΔE 3.62 — 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 Shark Fin swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.68). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Frosted Fern without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Rodda's nearest match is Buried Fossil (R057), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.17). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Frosted Fern without repainting risk. See the full Buried Fossil swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Frosted Fern
C2 Paint's nearest match is Bramble (C2-957), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.24). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Frosted Fern without repainting risk. See the full Bramble swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Backdrop has no exact twin of Frosted Fern. The nearest is Le Freak (BD-LF) at ΔE 3.86 — 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 Le Freak swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Frosted Fern
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Frosted Fern is Tate Green (371674) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tate Green swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Frosted Fern
Kompozit's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.68). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Frosted Fern without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →