Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Groundbreaking |
| SKU | 8005-8F |
| Hex | #786C5E |
| RGB | 120, 108, 94 |
| HSL | 32°, 12%, 42% |
| LRV | 16 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Valspar Groundbreaking
With an LRV of 16, Groundbreaking 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.
Groundbreaking 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
15 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.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Groundbreaking 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 #786C5E in HSL space. Pair Groundbreaking 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 Groundbreaking Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Groundbreaking 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 8005-8F directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Groundbreaking
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Groundbreaking is Superior Bronze (SW 6152) — very close at ΔE 2.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Superior Bronze swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Behr has no exact twin of Groundbreaking. The nearest is Chalet (QE-23) at ΔE 3.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 16). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chalet swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Fallen Timber (994), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Groundbreaking without repainting risk. See the full Fallen Timber swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Groundbreaking
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Sleeping Giant (PPG1025-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Groundbreaking without repainting risk. See the full Sleeping Giant swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Groundbreaking
The closest Glidden equivalent of Groundbreaking is Sleeping Giant (PPG1025-6). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16). If Glidden is your counter, order Sleeping Giant and you'll get the same color. See the full Sleeping Giant swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Groundbreaking
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Groundbreaking is Exposed (441-6DB). At ΔE 0.66 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Exposed and you'll get the same color. See the full Exposed swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Groundbreaking
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Groundbreaking is Olde Gold (HGSW 3182) — very close at ΔE 2.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Olde Gold swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Smoked Oak Brown (DEBN76), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Groundbreaking without repainting risk. See the full Smoked Oak Brown swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Groundbreaking. The nearest is London Clay (NO. 244) at ΔE 4.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 14 vs 16). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full London Clay swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Monk's Cloth (0220), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.01). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Groundbreaking without repainting risk. See the full Monk's Cloth swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Portobello (H0129), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.76). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Groundbreaking without repainting risk. See the full Portobello swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Groundbreaking
Rodda's nearest match is Saddlery (CA078), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Groundbreaking without repainting risk. See the full Saddlery swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Groundbreaking
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Groundbreaking is Clydesdale (C2-839) — very close at ΔE 3.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Clydesdale swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Groundbreaking
At Kompozit, the closest color to Groundbreaking is Grey Locks (0570) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 14 vs 16) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grey Locks swatch →