Burnished Blade is a true neutral — the rare paint color that doesn't push warm or cool, which makes it forgiving across mixed-lighting rooms and existing palettes. At LRV 35 it carries real depth without going dark — a good choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. Skip it only if you specifically want a clear warm or cool bias — a true neutral stays intentionally undecided, which is the whole point.
Ref. #9E9F9E · PPG0995-5
Burnished Blade
35%LRV Value
Burnished Blade Technical Profile
What color is PPG Burnished Blade (PPG0995-5)? It's a medium neutral gray — hex #9E9F9E, LRV 35. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Burnished Blade is Hirshfield's Smoky Tone — a near-identical match on the wall, with Vista Paint Techile and Behr Gateway Gray also close. Its LRV of 35 gives Burnished Blade depth without going dark, which makes it a strong choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. Burnished Blade is a true neutral — pair with any wood, any metal, any trim color. Off-white trim works in most homes; brushed nickel or matte black hardware both read well across spaces. At mid depth, Burnished Blade 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. True neutrals read consistently across lighting conditions, which is why they're popular base colors. They inherit a faint warm cast under 2700K and a cool cast under 4000K, but never dramatically. At mid depth Burnished Blade holds its character across bulb temperatures, shifting only slightly warm under 2700K and slightly crisper under cool daylight.
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Colors Similar to Burnished Blade
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Burnished Blade
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Burnished Blade
#9E9F9E
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#85AD99
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Burnished Blade
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Burnished Blade 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 PPG Colors
Other PPG colors close to Burnished Blade.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Burnished Blade — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Burnished Blade from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Burnished Blade are Smoky Tone by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Techile by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Gateway Gray by Behr (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 Burnished Blade'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 Burnished Blade?
Burnished Blade has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 34.5, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a mid-depth color with real presence — strong on accent walls, libraries, and rooms with good natural 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 Burnished Blade
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 Burnished Blade depends on the room. Here's how to choose.