Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Truly Taupe |
| SKU | SW 6038 |
| Hex | #AC9E97 |
| RGB | 172, 158, 151 |
| HSL | 20°, 11%, 63% |
| LRV | 35 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Truly Taupe
Truly Taupe sits in the mid-range at LRV 35, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Truly Taupe is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Closest matches by brand
15 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 neutral 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
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Truly Taupe 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 #AC9E97 in HSL space. Pair Truly Taupe 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 Truly Taupe Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Truly Taupe 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 6038 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Behr's nearest match is Coffee With Cream (N170-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.74). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Truly Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Coffee With Cream swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Valspar has no exact twin of Truly Taupe. The nearest is Smoked Oyster (6005-1C) at ΔE 3.92 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36.3 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Smoked Oyster swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Truly Taupe
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Truly Taupe is Winter's Nap (PPG1018-4) — very close at ΔE 2.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Winter's Nap swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Truly Taupe
At Glidden, the closest color to Truly Taupe is Simmering Smoke (PPG1019-4) — very close at ΔE 2.52, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Simmering Smoke swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Iron Clawfoot (447-3DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.85). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Truly Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Iron Clawfoot swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Truly Taupe
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Truly Taupe is Truly Taupe (HGSW 3435). 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 35 vs 35). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Truly Taupe and you'll get the same color. See the full Truly Taupe swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Truly Taupe. The nearest is Dust Yourself Off (DEGR04) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dust Yourself Off swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Truly Taupe. The nearest is Dead Salmon (NO. 28) at ΔE 3.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dead Salmon swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Truly Taupe. The nearest is Big Spender (0212) at ΔE 4.35 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Big Spender swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Truly Taupe. The nearest is Drifting Sand (0218) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Drifting Sand swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Truly Taupe
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Truly Taupe is Coco Malt (C2-796) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coco Malt swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Truly Taupe
Kompozit has no exact twin of Truly Taupe. The nearest is Drifting Sand (0218) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Drifting Sand swatch →