Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Au Contraire |
| SKU | M201 |
| Hex | #F49381 |
| RGB | 244, 147, 129 |
| HSL | 9°, 84%, 73% |
| LRV | 41.9 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Orange |
About Valspar Au Contraire
Au Contraire sits in the mid-range at LRV 41.9, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its red 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.
Au Contraire is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Earthy oranges and terracottas warm up dining rooms and entries.
Closest matches by brand
12 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 orange from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Au Contraire within Valspar'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 #F49381 in HSL space. Pair Au Contraire 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.
Valspar Au Contraire Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Au Contraire 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 Valspar M201 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Au Contraire is Charisma (SW 6605) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charisma swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Behr, the closest color to Au Contraire is Siren (P190-4) — very close at ΔE 3.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Siren swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Au Contraire
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Pink Polka Dot (004), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.08). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 43 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Au Contraire without repainting risk. See the full Pink Polka Dot swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Au Contraire
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Au Contraire. The nearest is Warm Welcome (PPG1194-5) at ΔE 4.03 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 39 vs 41.9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Warm Welcome swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Glidden, the closest color to Au Contraire is Fresh Salmon (23YR 45/369) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fresh Salmon swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Au Contraire
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Carmela Coral (104-5DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It runs slightly darker (LRV 39 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Au Contraire without repainting risk. See the full Carmela Coral swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Au Contraire
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Au Contraire is Coral Odyssey (HGSW 1075) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coral Odyssey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Au Contraire is Presidio Peach (DET435) — very close at ΔE 2.05, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 40 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Presidio Peach swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Au Contraire is Rose Essence (1065) — very close at ΔE 3.43, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rose Essence swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Au Contraire is Rose Essence (1065) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rose Essence swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Au Contraire
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Au Contraire. The nearest is Butternut Peel (BD43) at ΔE 4.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 37 vs 41.9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Butternut Peel swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Au Contraire
At Kompozit, the closest color to Au Contraire is Rose Essence (1065) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 41.9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rose Essence swatch →