Sea Lion Brown
2003-9B · #896B5E · LRV 16.6 — warm red tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Turkish Coffee5
- 2Oxblood11
- 3Sea Lion Brown16.6
- 4Modern Mocha25
- 5Redend Point30
What Color Is Sea Lion Brown, Really?
Sea Lion Brown reads as a warm red tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar 2003-9B behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Sea Lion Brown
Sea Lion Brown 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.
How Lighting Changes Sea Lion Brown
With an LRV of 16.6, Sea Lion Brown is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Sea Lion Brown 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 2003-9B 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 | Quartersawn OakSW 2836 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.4 | 16 | Color page → |
| Behr | French TruffleN150-5 · Behr | 1.0 | 17 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Saddle Soap2110-30 · Benjamin Moore | 1.9 | 18 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Suede LeatherPPG1072-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.4 | 16 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Toast Brown80YR 16/193 · Glidden | 3.5 | 16 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Reindeer HerdHGSW 3052 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 2.4 | 15 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Sea Lion Brown 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 #896B5E in HSL space. Pair Sea Lion Brown with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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