Kernel of Truth
V015-3 · #FFA901 · LRV 51.8 — warm red-orange tone, light — bounces daylight without going clinical.
- 1Caramelized35
- 2Venetian Plaster42
- 3Kernel of Truth51.8
- 4Colonial Yellow59
- 5Belvedere Cream65
What Color Is Kernel of Truth, Really?
Kernel of Truth reads as a warm red-orange tone — light — bounces daylight without going clinical. The notes below cover how Valspar V015-3 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Kernel of Truth
Kernel of Truth is an easy whole-room color for living spaces and bedrooms, and light enough to carry onto trim or a ceiling if you want a soft, seamless look. Earthy oranges and terracottas warm up dining rooms and entries.
How Lighting Changes Kernel of Truth
At LRV 51.8, Kernel of Truth is a light color that bounces daylight around a room without tipping into stark white. 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. It holds its undertone in most exposures, which is what makes light shades like this so forgiving room to room.
Most complaints about Kernel of Truth 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 V015-3 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 | Gusto GoldSW 6904 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.1 | 50 | Color page → |
| Behr | Sun RayS-G-340 · Behr | 0.0 | 50 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Mandarin Orange2018-20 · Benjamin Moore | 0.8 | 46 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Marigold Petals05YY 42/727 · Glidden | 3.8 | 42 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Ambered Honey113-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.1 | 50 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Summer SunflowerHGSW 1162 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 4.8 | 50 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Kernel of Truth 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 #FFA901 in HSL space. Pair Kernel of Truth with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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