Starburst Wheat reads as warm and grounded — strong in kitchens, family rooms, and any space where warmth is the dominant mood you're after. 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 in rooms that already run warm or get strong afternoon sun, where it can tip into an overpowering glow.
Ref. #CCBB89 · 321-3DB
Starburst Wheat
50%LRV Value
Starburst Wheat Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Starburst Wheat (321-3DB)? It's a medium warm orange — hex #CCBB89, LRV 50. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Starburst Wheat is Benjamin Moore Henderson Buff — a near-identical match on the wall, with Benjamin Moore Sombrero and Dunn-Edwards Bakelite Yellow also close. At LRV 50, Starburst Wheat sits in the comfortable mid-light range — bright enough for living areas yet soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. Pair it with warm whites like White Dove, white oak floors, and unlacquered brass or copper hardware. Terracotta tile or deep green plants complete an earthy warm palette. 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. Oranges glow under 2700K warm bulbs, deepening into rich amber. Under 4000K cool light they can lose warmth and shift toward beige — particularly true for muted or dusty oranges. 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 Starburst Wheat
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Starburst Wheat
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Starburst Wheat
#CCBB89
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#A5B181
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Starburst Wheat
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Starburst Wheat 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 Starburst Wheat.
More orange colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the orange family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Starburst Wheat — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Starburst Wheat from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Starburst Wheat are Henderson Buff by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Sombrero by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Bakelite Yellow by Dunn-Edwards (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 Starburst Wheat'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 Starburst Wheat?
Starburst Wheat has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 50.2, 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 Starburst Wheat
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 Starburst Wheat depends on the room. Here's how to choose.