Sherwin-Williams Hardware#8B8372 · LRV 23
Hardware reads as a red-orange / warm — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Sherwin-Williams SW 6172 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Hardware |
| SKU | SW 6172 |
| Hex | #8B8372 |
| RGB | 139, 131, 114 |
| HSL | 41°, 10%, 50% |
| LRV | 23 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Hardware
With an LRV of 23, Hardware is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Hardware works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all neutral from that brand.
Behr
PPG / Glidden
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Clare
Magnolia Home
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Hardware 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 #8B8372 in HSL space. Pair Hardware 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.