CP
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS · SW 9649

Sherwin-Williams Willowleaf#85877B · LRV 24

Willowleaf reads as a true neutral (no measurable hue) — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Sherwin-Williams SW 9649 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS WILLOWLEAF
RGB 133, 135, 123 LRV 24

Color spec

Brand Sherwin-Williams
Name Willowleaf
SKU SW 9649
Hex #85877B
RGB 133, 135, 123
HSL 70°, 5%, 51%
LRV 24
Undertone true neutral (no measurable hue)
Family Gray

About Sherwin-Williams Willowleaf

With an LRV of 24, Willowleaf is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.

Willowleaf works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.

Closest matches at every US brand

13 brands · top 5 each

5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.81
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-60 · #86897D · ΔE 0.81 · LRV 24
JG-125 · #838379 · ΔE 1.96 · LRV 22
JG-65 · #7E857D · ΔE 3 · LRV 23
JG-20 · #85837B · ΔE 3.3 · LRV 23
JG-124 · #8E897F · ΔE 4.31 · LRV 25

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.05
All gray at Behr →
N200-5 · #84887D · ΔE 1.05 · LRV 24
N220-5 · #888877 · ΔE 2.25 · LRV 24
T12-11 · #8A877B · ΔE 2.67 · LRV 24
PPU24-07 · #87857E · ΔE 3.55 · LRV 23
PPU8-22 · #87857E · ΔE 3.55 · LRV 23

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.94
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-938 · #838575 · ΔE 1.94 · LRV 23
C2-921 · #868274 · ΔE 3.43 · LRV 22
C2-951 · #86847D · ΔE 3.6 · LRV 23
C2-905 · #8D8779 · ΔE 4.2 · LRV 24
C2-906 · #8D8474 · ΔE 5.74 · LRV 23

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.21
All gray at Valspar →
5003-2A · #808374 · ΔE 2.21 · LRV 22.1
T697 · #7E867A · ΔE 2.95 · LRV 23
V140-5 · #7F837D · ΔE 3.24 · LRV 22.2
5002-2A · #7F8984 · ΔE 4.65 · LRV 24
6003-2A · #8D8679 · ΔE 4.78 · LRV 24.1

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.76
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG11-24 · #818777 · ΔE 2.76 · LRV 23
PPG0999-5 · #8A8478 · ΔE 4.35 · LRV 23
PPG1008-5 · #8D8678 · ΔE 4.71 · LRV 24
PPG1025-5 · #8D8475 · ΔE 5.76 · LRV 23
PPG1006-5 · #8C847D · ΔE 6.7 · LRV 24

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.05
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DET510 · #878573 · ΔE 3.05 · LRV 23
DE6292 · #7D867C · ΔE 3.4 · LRV 22
DEGR37 · #88857D · ΔE 3.63 · LRV 24
DEGR49 · #86837D · ΔE 4.52 · LRV 23
DEBN69 · #8C8474 · ΔE 5.24 · LRV 23

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.12
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 292 · #8C8C7A · ΔE 3.12 · LRV 26
NO. 79 · #899081 · ΔE 3.9 · LRV 27
NO. 276 · #87847F · ΔE 4.91 · LRV 23
NO. 40 · #958975 · ΔE 7.45 · LRV 26
NO. 54 · #918069 · ΔE 9.82 · LRV 22

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.17
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
HC-163 · #7F867F · ΔE 3.17 · LRV 23
1580 · #818981 · ΔE 3.2 · LRV 24
HC-168 · #86847C · ΔE 3.21 · LRV 23
1469 · #8B847C · ΔE 5.82 · LRV 24
2111-40 · #8C847A · ΔE 5.84 · LRV 23

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.25
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-HF · #7C8478 · ΔE 3.25 · LRV 22
BD-OS · #7E7C5C · ΔE 8.71 · LRV 18
BD-CT · #A89E8A · ΔE 10.41 · LRV 33
BD-AN · #A89886 · ΔE 11.34 · LRV 33
BD-PW · #7C8E97 · ΔE 11.87 · LRV 27

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.32
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0575 · #8D8B82 · ΔE 3.32 · LRV 26
0582 · #878A85 · ΔE 3.57 · LRV 25
0569 · #878074 · ΔE 5.26 · LRV 22
0534 · #858787 · ΔE 6.24 · LRV 24
0542 · #878686 · ΔE 6.89 · LRV 24

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.48
All gray at Kompozit →
0582 · #828782 · ΔE 3.48 · LRV 24
0442 · #838C82 · ΔE 3.53 · LRV 25
0575 · #88857D · ΔE 3.63 · LRV 23
0380 · #8D876D · ΔE 6.22 · LRV 24
0534 · #7F8282 · ΔE 6.36 · LRV 22

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.6
All gray at Dutch Boy →
422-5DB · #858173 · ΔE 3.6 · LRV 22
439-4DB · #8C877F · ΔE 4.73 · LRV 24
437-4DB · #898885 · ΔE 5.19 · LRV 25
323-5DB · #8A856B · ΔE 6.05 · LRV 23
427-5DB · #7C8E87 · ΔE 7.09 · LRV 25

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 5.09
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-MD-14 · #91928C · ΔE 5.09 · LRV 28
PNT100-DP-52 · #8C8479 · ΔE 5.63 · LRV 23
PNT100-DP-66 · #767665 · ΔE 6.94 · LRV 18
PNT100-MD-16 · #7B8082 · ΔE 7.73 · LRV 21
PNT100-DP-61 · #6C795F · ΔE 10.08 · LRV 18

Similar Sherwin-Williams colors

closest in the Sherwin-Williams deck

The nearest shades to Willowleaf within Sherwin-Williams's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

SW 7743 · LRV 23
SW 77 · LRV 24
SW 6165 · LRV 23
SW 9613 · LRV 23
SW 9514 · LRV 23
SW 6172 · LRV 23

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #85877B in HSL space. Pair Willowleaf with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#85877B + #7D7B87
TRIADIC
#85877B · #7B8587 · #877B85
ANALOGOUS
#87837B · #85877B · #7F877B

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
3.65:1 AA Large
Sample text on black
5.75:1 AA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Sherwin-Williams Willowleaf Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Willowleaf 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 9649 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Willowleaf

The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Willowleaf is Eden (JG-60). At ΔE 0.81 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 24). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Eden and you'll get the same color. See the full Eden swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Willowleaf

Behr's nearest match is Woodcraft (N200-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 24) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Willowleaf without repainting risk. See the full Woodcraft swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Willowleaf

C2 Paint's nearest match is Olive Branch (C2-938), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 24) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Willowleaf without repainting risk. See the full Olive Branch swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Willowleaf

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Willowleaf is Smokey Sage (PPG11-24) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 24) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smokey Sage swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Willowleaf

At Valspar, the closest color to Willowleaf is Fat Cat (T697) — very close at ΔE 2.95, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 24) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fat Cat swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Willowleaf

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Willowleaf is Chelsea Gray (HC-168) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 24) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Chelsea Gray swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Willowleaf

At Backdrop, the closest color to Willowleaf is Hartford (BD-HF) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 22 vs 24) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hartford swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Willowleaf

Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Willowleaf. The nearest is Paved Path (0582) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 24). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Paved Path swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Willowleaf

Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Willowleaf. The nearest is Creek Bed (DEGR37) at ΔE 3.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 24). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Creek Bed swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Willowleaf

Kompozit has no exact twin of Willowleaf. The nearest is Greystoke (0575) at ΔE 3.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 24). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greystoke swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Willowleaf

Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Willowleaf. The nearest is Promising Gray (439-4DB) at ΔE 4.73 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 24). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Promising Gray swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Willowleaf

Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Willowleaf. The nearest is Mole's Breath (NO. 276) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 24). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mole's Breath swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Willowleaf

Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Willowleaf — the nearest deck color, Dirty Chai (PNT100-DP-52), is clearly different (ΔE 5.63). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9649 instead. See the full Dirty Chai swatch →

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