Purple Shimmer works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 50 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 crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #BABBC8 · 243-2DB
Purple Shimmer
50%LRV Value
Purple Shimmer Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Purple Shimmer (243-2DB)? It's a medium warm gray — hex #BABBC8, LRV 50. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Purple Shimmer is Hirshfield's Savoy — a near-identical match on the wall, with PPG Silverberry and PPG Cosmic also close. At LRV 50, Purple Shimmer 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 warm neutral, Purple Shimmer 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. At mid depth, Purple Shimmer grounds a space without darkening it — it holds up on lower walls, kitchen islands, and as a wraparound where a lighter neutral would feel washed out. 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. At mid depth Purple Shimmer holds its character across bulb temperatures, shifting only slightly warm under 2700K and slightly crisper under cool daylight.
Use this color
Get this color
Some sample and supply links are affiliate links — if you buy through them, Paint Color HQ may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the site free.
Colors Similar to Purple Shimmer
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Purple Shimmer
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Purple Shimmer
#BABBC8
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#9685AD
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Purple Shimmer
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Purple Shimmer 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 Purple Shimmer.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Purple Shimmer — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Purple Shimmer from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Purple Shimmer are Savoy by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Silverberry by PPG (a very close match), Cosmic by PPG (a very close 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 Purple Shimmer'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 Purple Shimmer?
Purple Shimmer has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 50.1, 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 Purple Shimmer
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 Purple Shimmer depends on the room. Here's how to choose.