Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Virtual Taupe |
| SKU | SW 7039 |
| Hex | #8A7A6A |
| RGB | 138, 122, 106 |
| HSL | 30°, 13%, 48% |
| LRV | 20 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Virtual Taupe
With an LRV of 20, Virtual Taupe 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.
Virtual Taupe works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
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 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
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Virtual 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 #8A7A6A in HSL space. Pair Virtual 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 Virtual Taupe Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Virtual 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 7039 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Behr's nearest match is Native Soil (PPU7-24), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.81). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Virtual Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Native Soil swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Everard Coffee (CW-150), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Virtual Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Everard Coffee swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Valspar has no exact twin of Virtual Taupe. The nearest is Mossy Aura (6002-2B) at ΔE 4.31 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20.7 vs 20). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mossy Aura swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Ghost Ship (PPG15-20), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.39). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Virtual Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Ghost Ship swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
The closest Glidden equivalent of Virtual Taupe is Thunderbird (PPG1021-5). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20). If Glidden is your counter, order Thunderbird and you'll get the same color. See the full Thunderbird swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Seasoned Wood (441-5DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.41). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Virtual Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Seasoned Wood swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Virtual Taupe is Virtual Taupe (HGSW 2483). 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 20 vs 20). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Virtual Taupe and you'll get the same color. See the full Virtual Taupe swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Medium Roast (DEBN33), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.4). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Virtual Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Medium Roast swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Virtual Taupe. The nearest is Dauphin (NO. 54) at ΔE 3.62 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 20). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dauphin swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Virtual Taupe is Sandy Shoes (0199) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sandy Shoes swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Virtual Taupe is Industrial Strength (0234) — very close at ΔE 3.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Industrial Strength swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
Rodda's nearest match is Peat (CA077), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Virtual Taupe without repainting risk. See the full Peat swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Virtual Taupe is Saddle (C2-809) — very close at ΔE 2.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Saddle swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
At Annie Sloan, the closest color to Virtual Taupe is Coco (COCO) — very close at ΔE 3.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coco swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Virtual Taupe
At Kompozit, the closest color to Virtual Taupe is Industrial Strength (0234) — very close at ΔE 3.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Industrial Strength swatch →