Tawny Owl works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 26 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. #978B71 · DET640
Tawny Owl
26%LRV Value
Tawny Owl Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Tawny Owl (DET640)? It's a deep warm brown — hex #978B71, LRV 26. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Tawny Owl is Behr Urban Safari — a near-identical match on the wall, with Behr Dry Pasture and Valspar Sandalwood also close. Its LRV of 26 gives Tawny Owl depth without going dark, which makes it a strong choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. As a warm neutral, Tawny Owl 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, Tawny Owl 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 Tawny Owl in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Tawny Owl
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Tawny Owl
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Tawny Owl
#978B71
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#A6AD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Tawny Owl
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Tawny Owl 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 Tawny Owl.
More brown colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the brown family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Tawny Owl — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Tawny Owl from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Tawny Owl are Urban Safari by Behr (a near-identical match), Dry Pasture by Behr (a near-identical match), Sandalwood by Valspar (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 Tawny Owl'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 Tawny Owl?
Tawny Owl has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 26.2, 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 Tawny Owl
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 Tawny Owl depends on the room. Here's how to choose.