Ref. #696E65 · N200-6
Kindling
15%LRV Value
Warm (Golden)Undertone
Kindling Technical Profile
What color is Kindling? It's a deep warm gray with the hex code #696E65. Colors similar to Kindling include Vista Paint Billowing Smoke, Benjamin Moore Rainy Afternoon, RAL Mouse Grey. Kindling has a warm (golden) undertone, which affects how it pairs with trim, flooring, and adjacent wall colors. With an LRV of 15, Kindling creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. As a warm neutral, Kindling pairs with off-whites for trim, white oak or walnut floors, and brass or warm brushed nickel hardware. Deep green, navy, or terra-cotta all read well as accent colors. Warm neutrals come alive under 2700K bulbs, where their underlying yellow or peach undertones add visible warmth. Under 4000K daylight they read cleaner and slightly cooler.
Colors Similar to Kindling
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Billowing Smoke
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Rainy Afternoon
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Mouse Grey
RAL
Nearly identical
Velvet Clover
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Campground
Valspar
Nearly identical
Gunmetal Gray
PPG
Nearly identical
Billowing Smoke
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Homburg Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Kindling
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Kindling
#696E65
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#6A9C6D
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Kindling
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Kindling 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 Kindling.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Kindling — Frequently Asked Questions
What undertone does Kindling have?
Kindling by Behr has a warm (golden) undertone and belongs to the gray color family.
What colors match Kindling from other brands?
The closest matches are Billowing Smoke by Vista Paint (#6B6F67), Rainy Afternoon by Benjamin Moore (#656C62), Mouse Grey by RAL (#646B63). Always verify with physical samples.
What is the LRV of Kindling?
Kindling has an LRV of 15.1, where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white.
Explore More with Kindling
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.
Understanding Paint Color Undertones
Why Kindling's warm (golden) undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.