Brown Hen
M122 · #543D27 · LRV 5.4 — warm red-orange tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Mahogany0
- 2Brown Hen5.4
- 3Porpoise13
- 4Cavern Clay20
What Color Is Brown Hen, Really?
Brown Hen reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Valspar M122 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Brown Hen
Brown Hen earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Brown Hen
At LRV 5.4, Brown Hen is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Brown Hen are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Valspar M122 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Dark CloveSW 9183 · Sherwin-Williams | 4.9 | 5 | Color page → |
| Behr | Revival Mahogany760B-7 · Behr | 5.0 | 5 | Color page → |
| Backdrop | It's a DateBD-IT · Backdrop | 4.3 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Brown Hen within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #543D27 in HSL space. Pair Brown Hen with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Brown Hen?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question