Shady Willow works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 30 it carries real depth without going dark — a good choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. Skip it if you want a crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #939689 · ECC-36-1
Shady Willow
30%LRV Value
Shady Willow Technical Profile
What color is Behr Shady Willow (ECC-36-1)? It's a deep warm gray — hex #939689, LRV 30. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Shady Willow is Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog — a near-identical match on the wall, with Dunn-Edwards Smoke & Ash and Vista Paint Everlasting Sage also close. Its LRV of 30 gives Shady Willow depth without going dark, which makes it a strong choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. As a warm neutral, Shady Willow 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. As a deeper neutral, Shady Willow reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. 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. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Shady Willow in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Shady Willow
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Smoke & Ash
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Everlasting Sage
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Everlasting Sage
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Storm Cloud Gray
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Eucalyptus Tree
PPG
Very similar
Dusky Parakeet
Valspar
Very similar
Smoky Gray
Dutch Boy
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Shady Willow
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Shady Willow
#939689
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#90AD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Shady Willow
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Shady Willow 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 Shady Willow.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Shady Willow — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Shady Willow from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Shady Willow are Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Smoke & Ash by Dunn-Edwards (a near-identical match), Everlasting Sage by Vista Paint (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 Shady Willow'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 Shady Willow?
Shady Willow has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 29.8, 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 Shady Willow
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 Shady Willow depends on the room. Here's how to choose.