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Decatur Buff HC-38
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Saturated yellow (a color, not a neutral)
In CIELAB, Decatur Buff sits at L* 69.8, a* 3.4, b* 25.2. Its hue angle is 82° and its chroma is 25.5, so it reads as an outright yellow rather than a neutral. It classifies as warm. Among Benjamin Moore colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 75%.
LRV 39.8: mid-tone
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 39.8, Decatur Buff is lighter than 43% of Benjamin Moore colors. Reads clearly as a color. Best in rooms with good natural light, or as an accent wall; small dark rooms may feel smaller.
Closest Sherwin-Williams match to Decatur Buff
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camelback | SW 6122 | 1.97 | Very close | |
| Tarnished Treasure | SW 9118 | 2.13 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Downing Straw | SW 2813 | 2.15 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Closest Behr match to Decatur Buff
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Watch | N290-5 | 1.39 | Very close | |
| Mesa | 320F-5 | 1.73 | Very close | |
| Golden Age | T13-4 | 1.85 | Very close |
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Path | 1047 | 0.00 | Practically identical | |
| Simple Pleasures | 1097 | 1.10 | Very close | |
| Spice Gold | 1040 | 1.45 | Very close | |
| Brunswick Beige | 1061 | 1.65 | Very close | |
| Bridgewater Tan | 1096 | 2.06 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Grenada Hills Gold | 229 | 2.28 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Benjamin Moore with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Winthrop Peach HC-55 · lighter, LRV 43.2
- Twilight Gold 1069 · lighter, LRV 42.9
- Lenox Tan HC-44 · lighter, LRV 43.1
- Wicker Basket CSP-255 · darker, LRV 37.3
- Sherwood Tan 1054 · darker, LRV 37.3
- Barley Harvest 1070 · darker, LRV 35.1
Colors that go with Decatur Buff
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Benjamin Moore color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Aqua Marina 816 · complementary (180°)
- Farmer's Market 054 · analogous (−30°)
- Grasslands CC-590 · analogous (+30°)
- Harbor Side Blue 740 · triadic (120°)
- Hydrangea 1390 · triadic (240°)
Decatur Buff vs popular colors
- Beige Gray (Benjamin Moore ES-51, ΔE 9.2) is about as light, more blue/cool, more green, more muted.
- Italianate (Benjamin Moore AF-215, ΔE 9.3) is darker (LRV 36.5 vs 39.8), more red/pink, more saturated.
- Natural (Benjamin Moore ES-10, ΔE 9.5) is lighter (LRV 45.7 vs 39.8), more yellow/warm, more red/pink, more saturated.