Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Gray Area |
| SKU | SW 7052 |
| Hex | #AFA696 |
| RGB | 175, 166, 150 |
| HSL | 38°, 14%, 64% |
| LRV | 39 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Gray Area
Gray Area sits in the mid-range at LRV 39, 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.
Gray Area 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
18 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
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Gray Area 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 #AFA696 in HSL space. Pair Gray Area 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 Gray Area Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Gray Area 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 7052 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Gray Area
Behr's nearest match is Garden Wall (730D-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Garden Wall swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Gray Area
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Jockey Hollow Gray (HC-108), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Jockey Hollow Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Gray Area
At Valspar, the closest color to Gray Area is Ashen Gray (6004-1C) — very close at ΔE 2.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ashen Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Gray Area
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Gray Area is Aldabra (PPG14-28) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aldabra swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Gray Area
Glidden has no exact twin of Gray Area. The nearest is Whispering Willow (60YY 38/120) at ΔE 3.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Whispering Willow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Gray Area
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Gray Area is Hazy Gray (440-3DB). At ΔE 0.92 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Hazy Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Hazy Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Area
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Gray Area is Ethereal Mood (HGSW 7639). At ΔE 0.54 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Ethereal Mood and you'll get the same color. See the full Ethereal Mood swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Gray Area
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Well-Crafted (DEGR35), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.62). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Well-Crafted swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Gray Area
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Quaint Cottage (JG-114), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It runs slightly darker (LRV 37 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Gray Area
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Light Gray (NO. 17), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.21). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Light Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Gray Area
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Deep Marsh (0233), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Deep Marsh swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Gray Area
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Sedge (0226), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Sedge swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Gray Area
Rodda's nearest match is China Clay (CA154), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.55). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full China Clay swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Gray Area
C2 Paint's nearest match is Mortar (C2-814), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.11). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Mortar swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Gray Area
Kompozit's nearest match is Sedge (0226), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Area without repainting risk. See the full Sedge swatch →