Pearly Gray works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 70 it reflects plenty of light, which makes it well-suited for north-facing rooms and smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. 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. #DFD9D2 · 442-1DB
Pearly Gray
70%LRV Value
Pearly Gray Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Pearly Gray (442-1DB)? It's a light warm beige — hex #DFD9D2, LRV 70. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Pearly Gray is Sherwin-Williams Simple White — a near-identical match on the wall, with PPG Whitecliff Beige and Valspar Vanilla Steam also close. With a Light Reflectance Value of 70, Pearly Gray reflects a generous amount of light, making it well-suited for north-facing rooms or smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. As a warm neutral, Pearly Gray 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 lighter neutral, Pearly Gray 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. 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. Lighter neutrals reveal their undertone most, so Pearly Gray 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 Pearly Gray
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Simple White
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Whitecliff Beige
PPG
Nearly identical
Vanilla Steam
Valspar
Nearly identical
Creme De La Creme
Behr
Nearly identical
Venetian Wall
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Venetian Wall
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Nearly identical
Heirloom Shade
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Pearly Gray
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Pearly Gray
#DFD9D2
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#ACAD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Pearly Gray
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Pearly Gray 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 Pearly Gray.
More beige colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the beige family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Pearly Gray — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Pearly Gray from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Pearly Gray are Simple White by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Whitecliff Beige by PPG (a near-identical match), Vanilla Steam 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 Pearly Gray'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 Pearly Gray?
Pearly Gray has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 70.0, 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 Pearly Gray
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 Pearly Gray depends on the room. Here's how to choose.