Dainty Lime is the most flexible accent family in residential paint — works as both a whole-room neutral when desaturated and a confident statement when saturated. At LRV 79 it reflects plenty of light, which makes it well-suited for north-facing rooms and smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Skip it only if your fixed finishes (flooring, stone, tile) already lean hard warm or cool enough to clash — otherwise it's one of the most forgiving families.
Ref. #DFEBC9 · 126-3DB
Dainty Lime
79%LRV Value
Dainty Lime Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Dainty Lime (126-3DB)? It's a light cool green — hex #DFEBC9, LRV 79. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Dainty Lime is Hirshfield's Earth Happiness — a near-identical match on the wall, with Kilz Birdcage and Benjamin Moore Crisp Green also close. With a Light Reflectance Value of 79, Dainty Lime reflects a generous amount of light, making it well-suited for north-facing rooms or smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Pair it with off-whites like Simply White, walnut or rift-cut oak floors, and mixed metals — brass for warmth, matte black for grounding. Terracotta and rust accents add warm contrast. At mid saturation, this color sits at a flexible mid-point — bold enough to anchor a room without dominating, and pairs cleanly with both crisp and creamy whites. Greens shift the most under different light. 2700K warms them toward olive or yellow-green; 4000K daylight reveals their true tone. Bluer greens especially benefit from north-facing daylight. At mid saturation the lighting shift is moderate but real — sample under both warm-bulb evening light and cool-daylight morning light before committing.
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Colors Similar to Dainty Lime
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Dainty Lime
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Dainty Lime
#DFEBC9
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#85B57D
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Dainty Lime
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Dainty Lime 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 Dutch Boy Colors
Other Dutch Boy colors close to Dainty Lime.
More green colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the green family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Dainty Lime — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Dainty Lime from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Dainty Lime are Earth Happiness by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Birdcage by Kilz (a near-identical match), Crisp Green by Benjamin Moore (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 Dainty Lime'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 Dainty Lime?
Dainty Lime has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 79.3, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a light, reflective color that bounces plenty of light back into a room — well-suited to north-facing spaces, hallways, and smaller rooms that need to feel brighter. 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 Dainty Lime
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 Dainty Lime depends on the room. Here's how to choose.