Softened Lilac works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 77 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. #E8E2E6 · 346-1DB
Softened Lilac
77%LRV Value
Softened Lilac Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Softened Lilac (346-1DB)? It's a light warm off-white — hex #E8E2E6, LRV 77. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Softened Lilac is Hirshfield's Lavender Pizzazz — a near-identical match on the wall, with Behr Cloud Nine and PPG Orchid Petal also close. With a Light Reflectance Value of 77, Softened Lilac 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, Softened Lilac 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, Softened Lilac 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 Softened Lilac 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 Softened Lilac
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Lavender Pizzazz
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Cloud Nine
Behr
Nearly identical
Orchid Petal
PPG
Nearly identical
Cool Violet
Valspar
Nearly identical
Lavender Pizzazz
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Raindrops on Roses
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Lite Lavender
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Vintage Lamp
Kilz
Nearly identical
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Softened Lilac
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Softened Lilac
#E8E2E6
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#AD858B
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Softened Lilac
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Softened Lilac 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 Softened Lilac.
More off-white colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the off-white family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Softened Lilac — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Softened Lilac from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Softened Lilac are Lavender Pizzazz by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Cloud Nine by Behr (a near-identical match), Orchid Petal by PPG (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 Softened Lilac'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 Softened Lilac?
Softened Lilac has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 77.3, 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 Softened Lilac
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 Softened Lilac depends on the room. Here's how to choose.