Ground Nutmeg works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 17 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. 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. #866D4D · 10YY 16/217
Ground Nutmeg
17%LRV Value
Ground Nutmeg Technical Profile
What color is PPG Ground Nutmeg (10YY 16/217)? It's a deep warm brown — hex #866D4D, LRV 17. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Ground Nutmeg is Hirshfield's Golden Freesia — a near-identical match on the wall, with Dunn-Edwards Chester Brown and Benjamin Moore Blue Ridge Mountains also close. With an LRV of 17, Ground Nutmeg creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. As a warm neutral, Ground Nutmeg 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 deeper neutral, Ground Nutmeg reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. 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. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Ground Nutmeg in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Ground Nutmeg
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Golden Freesia
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Chester Brown
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Blue Ridge Mountains
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Alchemical Gold
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Grecian Helmet
Valspar
Nearly identical
Library Oak
Behr
Nearly identical
Golden Fressia
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Thatch Brown
Sherwin-Williams
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Ground Nutmeg
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Ground Nutmeg
#866D4D
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#999C6A
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Ground Nutmeg
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Ground Nutmeg 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 Ground Nutmeg.
More brown colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the brown family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Ground Nutmeg — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Ground Nutmeg from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Ground Nutmeg are Golden Freesia by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Chester Brown by Dunn-Edwards (a near-identical match), Blue Ridge Mountains by Benjamin Moore (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 Ground Nutmeg'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 Ground Nutmeg?
Ground Nutmeg has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 16.5, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected 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 Ground Nutmeg
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 Ground Nutmeg depends on the room. Here's how to choose.