Ref. #EFC488 · 30
Colonial Yellow
60%LRV Value
NeutralUndertone
Colonial Yellow Technical Profile
What color is Colonial Yellow? It's a light warm orange with the hex code #EFC488. Colors similar to Colonial Yellow include Hirshfield's Sunset In Italy, Valspar Golden Chime, Vista Paint Sunset in Italy. Colonial Yellow has a neutral undertone, which affects how it pairs with trim, flooring, and adjacent wall colors. At LRV 60, Colonial Yellow 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. 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.
Colors Similar to Colonial Yellow
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Colonial Yellow
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Colonial Yellow
#EFC488
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#C0C86A
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Colonial Yellow
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Colonial Yellow 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 Sherwin-Williams Colors
Other Sherwin-Williams colors close to Colonial Yellow.
More orange colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the orange family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Colonial Yellow — Frequently Asked Questions
What undertone does Colonial Yellow have?
Colonial Yellow by Sherwin-Williams has a neutral undertone and belongs to the orange color family.
What colors match Colonial Yellow from other brands?
The closest matches are Sunset In Italy by Hirshfield's (#F0C484), Golden Chime by Valspar (#F0C282), Sunset in Italy by Vista Paint (#EFC483). Always verify with physical samples.
What is the LRV of Colonial Yellow?
Colonial Yellow has an LRV of 59.6, where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white.
Explore More with Colonial Yellow
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.
Understanding Paint Color Undertones
Why Colonial Yellow's neutral undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.