Library Pewter
SW 38 · #7F7263 · LRV 17 — warm red-orange tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Nocturne8
- 2Library Pewter17
- 3Dorian Gray39
- 4Pashmina44
What Color Is Library Pewter, Really?
Library Pewter reads as a warm red-orange tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 38 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Library Pewter
Library Pewter 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.
How Lighting Changes Library Pewter
With an LRV of 17, Library Pewter 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.
Most complaints about Library Pewter 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 38 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 | Ash BrownN320-6A · Behr | 1.9 | 18 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Fairview TaupeHC-85 · Benjamin Moore | 1.5 | 18 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Empire6003-2B · Valspar | 3.6 | 17.6 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | ThunderstruckPPG1000-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.1 | 18 | Color page → |
| Glidden | ThunderstruckPPG1000-6 · Glidden | 2.0 | 18 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Hooting Owl420-5DB · Dutch Boy | 0.7 | 17 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Library Pewter 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 #7F7263 in HSL space. Pair Library Pewter with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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