Nocturne
SW 9520 · #544E42 · LRV 8 — warm red-orange tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Nocturne8
- 2Anonymous20
- 3Fawn Brindle36
What Color Is Nocturne, Really?
Nocturne reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 9520 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Nocturne
Nocturne earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
How Lighting Changes Nocturne
At LRV 8, Nocturne is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Nocturne 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 9520 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 | Rare WoodMQ2-39 · Behr | 4.8 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Tavern CharcoalCW-90 · Benjamin Moore | 1.8 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Turkish Coffee6003-2C · Valspar | 1.1 | 7.4 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Afternoon TeaPPG1023-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.8 | 8 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Afternoon TeaPPG1023-7 · Glidden | 2.8 | 8 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Deeply Rooted421-7DB · Dutch Boy | 1.9 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Nocturne 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 #544E42 in HSL space. Pair Nocturne with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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