Summer Shade reads as crisp and architectural — strong in modern spaces, with natural fixed elements (chrome, stone, glass), or as a quiet anchor. At LRV 68 it sits in the comfortable mid-light range — bright enough for living areas, soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. Skip it if you want a cozy, warm room — cool neutrals can feel sterile under warm bulbs or in low light.
Ref. #D1D9D7 · DET561
Summer Shade
68%LRV Value
Summer Shade Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Summer Shade (DET561)? It's a light cool gray — hex #D1D9D7, LRV 68. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Summer Shade is Valspar Azure Snow — a near-identical match on the wall, with Sherwin-Williams Serenely and Behr Pacific Mist also close. At LRV 68, Summer Shade sits in the comfortable mid-light range — bright enough for living areas yet soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. As a cool neutral, Summer Shade pairs with cool whites for trim, gray-toned or rift-cut oak floors, and brushed nickel or polished chrome hardware. Black accents and natural greenery add contrast. As a lighter neutral, Summer Shade works as a whole-room or trim color and keeps adjoining colors reading clean — pair it with crisper whites a step brighter than itself so the trim still separates. Cool neutrals hold their crisp quality under 4000K+ daylight bulbs. Under 2700K warm light they soften considerably — particularly true for any blue or green undertone. Lighter neutrals reveal their undertone most, so Summer Shade can swing warmer under 2700K bulbs and cleaner under 4000K daylight — sample it against your trim before committing.
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Colors Similar to Summer Shade
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Summer Shade
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Summer Shade
#D1D9D7
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#85A3AD
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Summer Shade
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Summer Shade 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 Summer Shade.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Summer Shade — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Summer Shade from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Summer Shade are Azure Snow by Valspar (a near-identical match), Serenely by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Pacific Mist by Behr (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 Summer Shade'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 Summer Shade?
Summer Shade has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 68.1, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a mid-light color — bright enough for living areas yet soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. 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 Summer Shade
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 Summer Shade depends on the room. Here's how to choose.