Raw Cacao Bean works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 11 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected 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. #655A4C · DEBN42
Raw Cacao Bean
11%LRV Value
Raw Cacao Bean Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Raw Cacao Bean (DEBN42)? It's a dark warm gray — hex #655A4C, LRV 11. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Raw Cacao Bean is Benjamin Moore North Creek Brown — a near-identical match on the wall, with Benjamin Moore Marshlands and PPG Chocolate Lab also close. With an LRV of 11, Raw Cacao Bean 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, Raw Cacao Bean 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, Raw Cacao Bean 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 Raw Cacao Bean in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Raw Cacao Bean
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
North Creek Brown
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Chocolate Lab
PPG
Nearly identical
Suitable Brown
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Ares Shadow
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Roasted Sepia
Valspar
Nearly identical
Pearl Beige
RAL
Nearly identical
Mocha Mousse
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Clove Brown
Behr
Nearly identical
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Raw Cacao Bean
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Raw Cacao Bean
#655A4C
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#86895B
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Raw Cacao Bean
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Raw Cacao Bean 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 Dunn-Edwards Colors
Other Dunn-Edwards colors close to Raw Cacao Bean.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Raw Cacao Bean — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Raw Cacao Bean from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Raw Cacao Bean are North Creek Brown by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Marshlands by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Chocolate Lab by PPG (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 Raw Cacao Bean'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 Raw Cacao Bean?
Raw Cacao Bean has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 10.6, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected 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 Raw Cacao Bean
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 Raw Cacao Bean depends on the room. Here's how to choose.