Sticks and Stones → PPG
The closest PPG matches for Sherwin Williams Sticks and Stones (SW 7503), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a PPG Equivalent for Sticks and Stones
If you love Sherwin Williams Sticks and Stones but need a PPG 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 PPG, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Sticks and Stones (SW 7503) is a medium beige with warm sandy beige undertones. A warm, natural sandy beige. Organic and earthy. To find a good PPG match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 54) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Sticks and Stones and every PPG 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 good news: there is a strong PPG match for Sticks and Stones. Warm Oatmeal (PPG1024-3) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Warm Oatmeal is the closest PPG option at LRV 55. Very close match.
PPG Matches for Sticks and Stones
Warm Oatmeal is the closest PPG option at LRV 55. Very close match.
| Sticks and Stones | Warm Oatmeal | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 54 | 55 |
| Hex | #CCC3B4 | #CDC5B7 |
| Undertone | Warm Sandy Beige | Warm Oatmeal Beige |
| Family | Beige | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
Sticks and Stones has warm sandy beige undertones. A warm, natural sandy beige. Organic and earthy.
Warm Oatmeal has warm oatmeal beige undertones. A warm, comforting beige with the soft, textured quality of oatmeal. Neither too yellow nor too gray, it sits in that perfectly neutral warm space that makes rooms feel lived-in and welcoming.
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
Sticks and Stones in Your Room
Warm and natural. Reads as a light earthy beige.
Warm Oatmeal in Your Room
The warm beige quality is consistent and comforting. In bright rooms, it reads as a warm, light beige. In dim rooms, the warmth provides gentle coziness. A reliable, crowd-pleasing neutral.
LRV and Brightness
Sticks and Stones has an LRV of 54, while Warm Oatmeal has an LRV of 55. 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 Sticks and Stones
Sherwin Williams recommends Sticks and Stones for: living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room, whole house. With an LRV of 54, 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.
Warm Oatmeal is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, whole house. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Warm Oatmeal in the same rooms you planned for Sticks and Stones.
Sticks and Stones in Other Brands
Looking for Sticks and Stones equivalents in other brands besides PPG? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest PPG match for Sticks and Stones (SW 7503) is Warm Oatmeal (PPG1024-3) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Warm Oatmeal is the closest PPG option at LRV 55. Very close match. 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. Sticks and Stones is a Sherwin Williams color with warm sandy beige undertones and an LRV of 54. Warm Oatmeal is a PPG color with warm oatmeal beige undertones and an LRV of 55. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a PPG equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in PPG. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing PPG 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.