Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Release the Hounds |
| SKU | M157 |
| Hex | #9C6D2A |
| RGB | 156, 109, 42 |
| HSL | 35°, 58%, 39% |
| LRV | 18.2 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Valspar Release the Hounds
With an LRV of 18.2, Release the Hounds 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.
Release the Hounds works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches by brand
10 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Release the Hounds 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 #9C6D2A in HSL space. Pair Release the Hounds 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 Release the Hounds Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Release the Hounds 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 M157 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Release the Hounds
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Sconce Gold (SW 6398), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18.2) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Release the Hounds without repainting risk. See the full Sconce Gold swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Release the Hounds
At Behr, the closest color to Release the Hounds is Wave Of Grain (S290-7) — very close at ΔE 2.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18.2) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wave Of Grain swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Release the Hounds
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Release the Hounds. The nearest is Golden Bark (2153-10) at ΔE 3.76 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 18.2). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Golden Bark swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Release the Hounds
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Release the Hounds. The nearest is Chewy Caramel (PPG1087-7) at ΔE 4.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 18.2). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chewy Caramel swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Release the Hounds
Glidden has no exact twin of Release the Hounds. The nearest is Chewy Caramel (PPG1087-7) at ΔE 4.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 18.2). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chewy Caramel swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Release the Hounds
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Alloy Bronze (217-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18.2) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Release the Hounds without repainting risk. See the full Alloy Bronze swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Release the Hounds
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Antiquarium (HGSW 2191), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18.2) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Release the Hounds without repainting risk. See the full Antiquarium swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Release the Hounds
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Release the Hounds is Hearth Gold (DEA165) — very close at ΔE 2.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 18.2) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hearth Gold swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Release the Hounds
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Release the Hounds. The nearest is Rich and Rare (0893) at ΔE 4.66 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 18.2). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rich and Rare swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Release the Hounds
Kompozit has no exact twin of Release the Hounds. The nearest is Rich and Rare (0893) at ΔE 4.66 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 18.2). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rich and Rare swatch →