Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Optimistic Yellow |
| SKU | SW 6900 |
| Hex | #F5E1A6 |
| RGB | 245, 225, 166 |
| HSL | 45°, 80%, 81% |
| LRV | 76 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Yellow |
About Sherwin-Williams Optimistic Yellow
Optimistic Yellow is very light — LRV 76, close to white. It opens up small or dim rooms and keeps walls feeling airy. 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 north light it can read slightly cooler; a warm white trim alongside keeps it from going clinical.
Optimistic Yellow shines on ceilings, trim and in small or low-light rooms where you need to stretch the light — and as a calm whole-home backdrop. Yellows lift kitchens, hallways and kids' rooms with warmth.
Closest matches by brand
16 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 yellow 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
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Optimistic Yellow 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 #F5E1A6 in HSL space. Pair Optimistic Yellow 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 Optimistic Yellow Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Optimistic Yellow 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 6900 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Behr has no exact twin of Optimistic Yellow. The nearest is Corn Stalk (M290-3) at ΔE 4.41 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 74 vs 76). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Corn Stalk swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Optimistic Yellow is Hawthorne Yellow (HC-4). At ΔE 0.43 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 76). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Hawthorne Yellow and you'll get the same color. See the full Hawthorne Yellow swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
The closest Valspar equivalent of Optimistic Yellow is Dainty Daisy (V018-1). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 77.1 vs 76). If Valspar is your counter, order Dainty Daisy and you'll get the same color. See the full Dainty Daisy swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Visionary (PPG1210-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.22). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Visionary swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Glidden's nearest match is Visionary (PPG1210-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.22). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Visionary swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Spritely Green (122-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Spritely Green swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Optimistic Yellow is Yellow Shell (HGSW 1185). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Yellow Shell and you'll get the same color. See the full Yellow Shell swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Sugar Cookie (DE5450), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.5). It runs slightly darker (LRV 71 vs 76) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Sugar Cookie swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Dayroom Yellow (NO. 233), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 75 vs 76) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Dayroom Yellow swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Gold Strand (0812), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.01). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 75 vs 76) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Gold Strand swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Optimistic Yellow is Gold Strand (0812). At ΔE 0.6 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 73 vs 76). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Gold Strand and you'll get the same color. See the full Gold Strand swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
C2 Paint's nearest match is Limerick (C2-592), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It runs slightly darker (LRV 74 vs 76) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Optimistic Yellow without repainting risk. See the full Limerick swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Clare has no exact twin of Optimistic Yellow. The nearest is Lemonade (PNT100-MD-22) at ΔE 3.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs noticeably darker (LRV 69 vs 76). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Lemonade swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Optimistic Yellow. The nearest is Patisserie (PATISSERIE) at ΔE 4.31 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 77 vs 76). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Patisserie swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Optimistic Yellow
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Optimistic Yellow is Gold Strand (0812). At ΔE 0.6 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 75 vs 76). If Kompozit is your counter, order Gold Strand and you'll get the same color. See the full Gold Strand swatch →