Austere Gray → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Sherwin Williams Austere Gray (SW 6184), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Austere Gray
If you love Sherwin Williams Austere Gray but need a Behr 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 Behr, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Austere Gray (SW 6184) is a medium green with cool green-gray undertones. A cool green-gray. Lighter than Comfort Gray, more green than Silverpointe. Austere in the best sense: restrained and refined. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 49) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Austere Gray and every Behr 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 Behr option is Wishful Green (PPU11-13) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Wishful Green is similar. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Austere Gray
Wishful Green is similar.
| Austere Gray | Wishful Green | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 49 | 53 |
| Hex | #C1C5BD | #C2C9BC |
| Undertone | Cool Green-Gray | Light Sage |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Austere Gray has cool green-gray undertones. A cool green-gray. Lighter than Comfort Gray, more green than Silverpointe. Austere in the best sense: restrained and refined.
Wishful Green has light sage undertones. A light sage green. Lighter than Jade Dragon, more green than Nature's Gift. Wishful and fresh.
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
Austere Gray in Your Room
The green is soft and restrained. In bright rooms, a cool green-gray. In dim rooms, a balanced neutral.
Wishful Green in Your Room
The sage is light and pleasant. In bright rooms, a soft green. In dim rooms, a warm green-gray.
LRV and Brightness
Austere Gray has an LRV of 49, while Wishful Green has an LRV of 53. 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 Austere Gray
Sherwin Williams recommends Austere Gray for: bathroom, bedroom, living room, hallway, kitchen. With an LRV of 49, this is a medium 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.
Wishful Green is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, kitchen, sunroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Wishful Green in the same rooms you planned for Austere Gray.
Austere Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Austere Gray equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Austere Gray (SW 6184) is Wishful Green (PPU11-13) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Wishful Green is similar. 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. Austere Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with cool green-gray undertones and an LRV of 49. Wishful Green is a Behr color with light sage undertones and an LRV of 53. 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 Behr equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Behr. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Behr 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.