Oaken Shield works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 25 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. #A4825D · 316-5DB
Oaken Shield
25%LRV Value
Oaken Shield Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Oaken Shield (316-5DB)? It's a deep warm brown — hex #A4825D, LRV 25. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Oaken Shield is Hirshfield's Toffee — a near-identical match on the wall, with Benjamin Moore Café au Lait and Hirshfield's Ginger Root also close. Its LRV of 25 gives Oaken Shield depth without going dark, which makes it a strong choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. As a warm neutral, Oaken Shield 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, Oaken Shield 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 Oaken Shield in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Oaken Shield
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Toffee
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Café au Lait
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Chamois Leather
Behr
Nearly identical
Rookwood Antique Gold
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Copper Haypenny
PPG
Nearly identical
Caramel Mountain
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Leather Satchel
Valspar
Nearly identical
Dark Sepia
Dunn-Edwards
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Oaken Shield
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Oaken Shield
#A4825D
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#ADAD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Oaken Shield
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Oaken Shield 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 Oaken Shield.
More brown colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the brown family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Oaken Shield — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Oaken Shield from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Oaken Shield are Toffee by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Café au Lait by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Ginger Root by Hirshfield's (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 Oaken Shield'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 Oaken Shield?
Oaken Shield has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 24.6, 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 Oaken Shield
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 Oaken Shield depends on the room. Here's how to choose.