Behr Radiant Silver MQ5-21
| Code: | MQ5-21 |
| Name: | Radiant Silver |
| Brand: | Behr |
What color is Behr Radiant Silver?
Behr Radiant Silver (MQ5-21) is a sophisticated gray with cool undertones, perfect for creating a contemporary and elegant atmosphere in any space. This versatile color pairs beautifully with crisp whites like Behr Polar Bear (75) for a clean, modern look. For a touch of warmth, combine Radiant Silver with soft neutrals like Behr Sculptor Clay (PPU5-8) or add a pop of color with accents in Behr Midnight Blue (S530-7). Whether used as a wall color, accent, or trim, Radiant Silver adds depth and style to any room, making it a timeless choice for your interior design project.
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What are Behr Radiant Silver undertones?
The undertone of Radiant Silver can be accurately described as a Blue hue, as is apparent from the color space provided. By isolating the pure hue and eliminating any tints, tones, and shades, we were able to precisely determine its undertone. This approach has proven to be more accurate than traditional methods of defining undertones on a white background, which are now considered outdated.
HEX value
HEX value:
#8F979D
RGB code:
143, 151, 157
Is Behr Radiant Silver MQ5-21 cool or warm?
With a hue of 206° thisGreyrefers cool paint shade according to HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) on the color wheel.
MQ5-21 Radiant Silver HSL code: 206, 7%, 59%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color..
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
- Cooler hues have a calm and relaxation effect
- Cool grey shades are versatile and provide a neutral canvas for your interior design. They seamlessly complement any style, whether it's Victorian, Scandinavian, or Modern.
- Cool blue shades make a room feel sleek, fresh, and modern, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices where a sense of calm and sophistication is desired.
- Using mid-tone cool colors like soft greys and muted blues can help create a calming and modern look in rooms like home offices, bathrooms, and bedrooms. But avoid using these shades in rooms without natural light, as they may look dull.
Act like a pro: Mixing warm and cool shades is a must have to get harmonius interior. Add accents that contrast with the primary color to create visual balance. If your walls are a warm color, don’t forget to add accent in cold colors (furniture, art, décor). A good practice is too use a complementary color scheme.
How light temperature affects Radiant Silver
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural‑light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange‑red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange‑yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color‑temperature (Kelvins).
Use the slider to see how this Grey shade looks under different lighting:


4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Behr Radiant Silver:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Lighter shades
MQ5-21
Radiant Silver
Darker shades
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Radiant Silver with a green hue, complementary colors are those with a red hue close to 26, such as Behr Tribeca and Oak Creek.
LRV of Radiant Silver
Radiant Silver has an LRV of 30.36% and refers to Medium colors that reflect a lot of light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 30.36%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you’ll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need. To copy the code, just click the icon to the right of it.
| Format | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #8f979d | |
| RGB Decimal | 143, 151, 157 | |
| RGB Percent | 56.08%, 59.22%, 61.57% | |
| HSV | Hue: 206° Saturation: 8.92% Value: 61.57% | |
| HSL | hsl(206, 7, 59) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 8.92 Magenta: 3.82 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 38.43 | |
| YIQ | Y: 149.292 I: -6.695 Q: 0.175 | |
| XYZ | X: 28.478 Y: 30.407 Z: 36.258 | |
| CIE Lab | L:62.004 a:-1.646 b:-4.137 | |
| CIE Luv | L:62.004 u:-4.722 v:-5.744 | |
| Decimal | 9410461 | |
| Hunter Lab | 55.142, -4.313, -0.385 |
Color equivalents
2126-40
Sweatshirt Gray
Benjamin Moore

SW 7664
Steely Gray
Sherwin Williams

SW 9161
Dustblu
Sherwin Williams

N490-4
Teton Blue
Behr

SW 9143
Cadet
Sherwin Williams

PPU18-04
Dark Pewter
Behr

CW-705
Tucker Gray
Benjamin Moore
2121-30
Pewter
Benjamin Moore
SW 9152
Let it Rain
Sherwin Williams

2124-30
Deep Silver
Benjamin Moore
PPU26-05
Flint Gray
Behr
SW 9162
African Gray
Sherwin Williams

N450-4
Moonquake
Behr
AF-570
Coastline
Benjamin Moore

1614
Delray Gray
Benjamin Moore

PPU26-20
Smokey Lilac
Behr
MQ5-29
Gotham Gray
Behr
N500-4
Pencil Sketch
Behr

HDC-AC-26A
Lilac Fields
Behr


