Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Whole Wheat |
| SKU | SW 6121 |
| Hex | #CDB592 |
| RGB | 205, 181, 146 |
| HSL | 36°, 37%, 69% |
| LRV | 48 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Whole Wheat
Whole Wheat sits in the mid-range at LRV 48, 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.
Whole Wheat 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
17 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
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Whole Wheat 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 #CDB592 in HSL space. Pair Whole Wheat 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 Whole Wheat Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Whole Wheat 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 6121 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Behr's nearest match is Hayloft (MQ2-22), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Hayloft swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Whole Wheat
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Whole Wheat is Shelburne Buff (HC-28) — very close at ΔE 2.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shelburne Buff swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Valspar's nearest match is Dad's Slippers (T570), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48.4 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Dad's Slippers swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Whole Wheat
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Whole Wheat is Real Simple (PPG1096-4) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Real Simple swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Glidden's nearest match is Real Simple (PPG1096-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Real Simple swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Maize (317-3DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.06). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Maize swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Whole Wheat
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Whole Wheat is Whole Wheat (HGSW 2186). 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 48 vs 48). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Whole Wheat and you'll get the same color. See the full Whole Wheat swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Whole Wheat
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Whole Wheat is Warm and Toasty (DET646) — very close at ΔE 2.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Warm and Toasty swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Whole Wheat
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Whole Wheat is Mortar Pink (NO. G13) — very close at ΔE 3.47, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mortar Pink swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Only Yesterday (0296), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.74). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Only Yesterday swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Palmetto Bluff (0309), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Palmetto Bluff swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Rodda's nearest match is Berber (CA118), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It runs slightly darker (LRV 46 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Berber swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Whole Wheat
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Whole Wheat is Karma (C2-635) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Karma swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Whole Wheat. The nearest is Versailles (VERSAILLES) at ΔE 4.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Versailles swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Whole Wheat
Kompozit's nearest match is Palmetto Bluff (0309), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Whole Wheat without repainting risk. See the full Palmetto Bluff swatch →