Key to the City reads as warm and grounded — strong in kitchens, family rooms, and any space where warmth is the dominant mood you're after. At LRV 36 it carries real depth without going dark — a good choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. Skip it in rooms that already run warm or get strong afternoon sun, where it can tip into an overpowering glow.
Ref. #BB9B7C · MQ2-03
Key to the City
36%LRV Value
Key to the City Technical Profile
What color is Behr Key to the City (MQ2-03)? It's a medium warm orange — hex #BB9B7C, LRV 36. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Key to the City is PPG Maison De Campagne — a near-identical match on the wall, with Hirshfield's Tailored Tan and Benjamin Moore Saddle Tan also close. Its LRV of 36 gives Key to the City depth without going dark, which makes it a strong choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. Pair it with warm whites like White Dove, white oak floors, and unlacquered brass or copper hardware. Terracotta tile or deep green plants complete an earthy warm palette. At mid saturation, this color sits at a flexible mid-point — bold enough to anchor a room without dominating, and pairs cleanly with both crisp and creamy whites. Oranges glow under 2700K warm bulbs, deepening into rich amber. Under 4000K cool light they can lose warmth and shift toward beige — particularly true for muted or dusty oranges. At mid saturation the lighting shift is moderate but real — sample under both warm-bulb evening light and cool-daylight morning light before committing.
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Colors Similar to Key to the City
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Key to the City
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Key to the City
#BB9B7C
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#ADAD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Key to the City
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Key to the City Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Behr Colors
Other Behr colors close to Key to the City.
More orange colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the orange family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Key to the City — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Key to the City from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Key to the City are Maison De Campagne by PPG (a near-identical match), Tailored Tan by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Saddle Tan by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Key to the City's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Key to the City?
Key to the City has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 35.5, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a mid-depth color with real presence — strong on accent walls, libraries, and rooms with good natural light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Key to the City
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Key to the City depends on the room. Here's how to choose.