Sturdy Brown
SW 6097 · #69482C · LRV 8 — warm red-orange tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Polished Mahogany3
- 2Sturdy Brown8
- 3Porpoise13
- 4Cavern Clay20
What Color Is Sturdy Brown, Really?
Sturdy Brown reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6097 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Sturdy Brown
Sturdy Brown earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Sturdy Brown
At LRV 8, Sturdy Brown 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 Sturdy Brown 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 6097 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 | Wooden Cabin290F-7 · Behr | 3.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Hickory ChipsM247 · Valspar | 1.3 | 8 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Pinecone Brown313-7DB · Dutch Boy | 4.7 | 8 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Brown AptitudeHGSW 3101 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Sturdy Brown 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 #69482C in HSL space. Pair Sturdy Brown with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Sturdy Brown?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question