Nankeen
SW 6397 · #AA803A · LRV 24 — warm red-orange tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Cabin Fever14
- 2Bengal Grass19
- 3Nankeen24
- 4Chilled Wine41
- 5Honey Tea52
What Color Is Nankeen, Really?
Nankeen reads as a warm red-orange tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6397 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Nankeen
Nankeen works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Yellows lift kitchens, hallways and kids' rooms with warmth.
How Lighting Changes Nankeen
With an LRV of 24, Nankeen 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 Nankeen 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 6397 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 | 24 KaratM280-7 · Behr | 3.1 | 24 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Caramel Corn2160-10 · Benjamin Moore | 2.8 | 25 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Sun Valley VistaM245 · Valspar | 2.3 | 26.2 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Brown BasketPPG16-15 · PPG / Glidden | 4.9 | 23 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Brown BasketPPG16-15 · Glidden | 4.7 | 23 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Bronzed Tan318-6DB · Dutch Boy | 1.8 | 25 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Nankeen 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 #AA803A in HSL space. Pair Nankeen with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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