Soft Fern → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Soft Fern (2144-40), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Soft Fern
If you love Benjamin Moore Soft Fern 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.
Soft Fern (2144-40) is a medium-dark green with soft fern green undertones. A muted fern green with gray undertones. Organic and calming. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 34.88) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Soft Fern 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 Svelte Sage (SW 6164) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Svelte Sage is close. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Soft Fern
Svelte Sage is close.
| Soft Fern | Svelte Sage | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 34.88 | 29 |
| Hex | #ACB7A5 | #A3A99D |
| Undertone | Soft Fern Green | Sage Green |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Soft Fern has soft fern green undertones. A muted fern green with gray undertones. Organic and calming.
Svelte Sage has sage green undertones. A muted sage with real presence. More saturated than Comfort Gray.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Soft Fern in Your Room
The green is soft and natural. In dim rooms, reads as a green-tinged warm gray.
Svelte Sage in Your Room
Distinctly sage in bright rooms. A warm gray-green in dim rooms.
LRV and Brightness
Soft Fern has an LRV of 34.88, while Svelte Sage has an LRV of 29. That means Soft Fern reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Soft Fern will make the space feel brighter and more open than Svelte Sage. If you are switching to the Sherwin Williams option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Soft Fern
Benjamin Moore recommends Soft Fern for: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, office. With an LRV of 34.88, this is a medium-dark color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Svelte Sage is recommended for: kitchen, living room, bedroom, exterior, bathroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Svelte Sage in the same rooms you planned for Soft Fern.
Soft Fern in Other Brands
Looking for Soft Fern equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Soft Fern (2144-40) is Svelte Sage (SW 6164) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Svelte Sage is close. 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. Soft Fern is a Benjamin Moore color with soft fern green undertones and an LRV of 34.88. Svelte Sage is a Sherwin Williams color with sage green undertones and an LRV of 29. With a Delta E of 4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. 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, 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.