Optimistic Yellow by Sherwin-Williams paint color
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Ref. #F5E1A6 · 6900

Optimistic Yellow

76%LRV Value
NeutralUndertone
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Optimistic Yellow 6900 is a orange paint color from Sherwin-Williams. It has a hex value of #F5E1A6, LRV 76 and a neutral undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Hawthorne Yellow from Benjamin Moore (nearly identical), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.

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Optimistic Yellow Technical Profile

HEX Code#F5E1A6
RGB245, 225, 166
LRV76.0
UndertoneNeutral
Color Familyorange
BrandSherwin-Williams

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Order a peel-and-stick sample of Optimistic YellowBuy at Sherwin-WilliamsSamples & supplies on Amazon

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Optimistic Yellow in Every Brand

The closest equivalent to Optimistic Yellow in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →

Sherwin-WilliamsOptimistic Yellow
Nearly identical
Benjamin MooreHawthorne Yellow

Hawthorne Yellow

Benjamin Moore

Nearly identical

Gold Strand

Vista Paint

Nearly identical

Gold Strand

Hirshfield's

Nearly identical

Kelsey's Curls

Valspar

Nearly identical

Honey Nectar

Dunn-Edwards

Nearly identical

Visionary

PPG

Nearly identical

Spritely Green

Dutch Boy

Nearly identical

Grain .02

Colorhouse

Nearly identical

Wickerware

Behr

Nearly identical

Dayroom Yellow

Farrow & Ball

Very similar

Bartlett

Kilz

Very similar

Seeing a close call? Order a peel-and-stick sample of Optimistic Yellow — or sample it next to its top matches — Samplize buy 8 peel-and-stick samples, get 2 free.

Recommended Pairings

Colors That Work With Optimistic Yellow

Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall

Living room with applied paint colors

Side Walls

Optimistic Yellow

#F5E1A6

Accent Wall

Tonal Shift

A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.

#B2CA68

Trim & Molding

Pure White

Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.

#FFFFFF

Customize in Room VisualizerExplore full palette →

Color Palettes for Optimistic Yellow

Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.

Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast

Base

Gold Strand

Complement

Wisteria Blue

Optimistic Yellow Room Palettes

Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.

Walls

This Color

Trim

UltraWhite

Accent

Verdant

Pop

Marigold

Warm & Inviting

Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable

Walls

This Color

Trim

UltraWhite

Accent

Kilkenny

Pop

Gentian

Cool & Calm

Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful

Walls

This Color

Trim

UltraWhite

Accent

Loch Blue

Pop

Blue Chip

Bold Contrast

Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking

Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors

Other Sherwin-Williams colors close to Optimistic Yellow.

Glad Yellow

Sherwin-Williams · 6694

#F5E1AC

Glisten Yellow

Sherwin-Williams · 6912

#F5E6AC

Banana Cream

Sherwin-Williams · 6673

#F5DEAF

Friendly Yellow

Sherwin-Williams · 6680

#F5E0B1

Enjoyable Yellow

Sherwin-Williams · 6666

#F5D6A9

Icy Lemonade

Sherwin-Williams · 1667

#F4E8B2

More orange colors from other brands

Cross-brand colors in the orange family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.

Orange Froth

Benjamin Moore · 151

#FFDAA0

Sweet Butter

Benjamin Moore · 171

#FDDC95

Atrium White

Benjamin Moore · PM-13

#F2EFE8

Coastal Cottage

Benjamin Moore · 1164

#E8D2C3

Antique White

Valspar · 7002-20

#EFE8DA

Barley Harvest

Benjamin Moore · 1070

#C29E74

Optimistic Yellow — Frequently Asked Questions

What undertone does Optimistic Yellow have?
Optimistic Yellow by Sherwin-Williams has a neutral undertone and sits in the orange color family. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Optimistic Yellow in your own space before committing.
What colors match Optimistic Yellow from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Optimistic Yellow are Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Gold Strand by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Gold Strand by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match) — the best options for getting Optimistic Yellow's look from a brand your local store carries. Confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Optimistic Yellow?
Optimistic Yellow has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 76.0, 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.

Explore More with Optimistic Yellow

See It on a Wall

Preview this color in a real room

How Much Paint?

Calculate gallons for your project

Browse orange Colors

Explore more shades in this family

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 Optimistic Yellow's neutral undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.

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