Barren Plain → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Barren Plain (2111-60), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Barren Plain
If you love Benjamin Moore Barren Plain but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Barren Plain (2111-60) is a medium gray with warm green-gray undertones. A light gray with subtle warm green undertones. Clean and contemporary. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 55.32) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Barren Plain and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) with a Delta E of 4.4, which is a "good match" level match. Agreeable Gray is warmer and more beige. Barren Plain is greener. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Barren Plain
Agreeable Gray is warmer and more beige. Barren Plain is greener.
| Barren Plain | Agreeable Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 55.32 | 60 |
| Hex | #CDC9C1 | #D1CBC1 |
| Undertone | Warm Green-Gray | Warm Greige |
| Family | Gray | Greige |
Undertone Comparison
Barren Plain has warm green-gray undertones. A light gray with subtle warm green undertones. Clean and contemporary.
Agreeable Gray has warm greige undertones. The quintessential greige. Balanced between gray and beige with warm undertones that keep it from feeling cold. One of the most popular paint colors in America for good reason.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Barren Plain's warm green-gray quality may read differently than Agreeable Gray's warm greige character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Barren Plain in Your Room
The green is mild. In most rooms, reads as a clean, slightly warm light gray.
Agreeable Gray in Your Room
Remarkably adaptable across lighting conditions. In bright light, the gray side shows more. In dim or warm light, the beige warmth comes forward. Works in virtually any room.
LRV and Brightness
Barren Plain has an LRV of 55.32, while Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Barren Plain
Benjamin Moore recommends Barren Plain for: living room, bedroom, bathroom, hallway. With an LRV of 55.32, this is a medium color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Agreeable Gray is recommended for: whole house, living room, bedroom, hallway, open floor plan. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Barren Plain in Other Brands
Looking for Barren Plain equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Barren Plain (2111-60) is Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Agreeable Gray is warmer and more beige. Barren Plain is greener. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Barren Plain is a Benjamin Moore color with warm green-gray undertones and an LRV of 55.32. Agreeable Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with warm greige undertones and an LRV of 60. With a Delta E of 4.4, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 4.4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.