Empire Gold
What Empire Gold Actually Looks Like
Empire Gold is a saturated, medium-depth gold that reads like antique brass on the wall. It sits right in the middle of the tonal range with an LRV of 37.2, so it is neither light enough to act as a neutral nor dark enough to feel heavy. Think of it as the color of aged honey or a well-worn leather portfolio.
In person, this color has real presence. It does not whisper. Under warm incandescent light it deepens toward caramel, and in cooler north-facing rooms it can pull back toward a muted ochre. Afternoon sun amplifies its golden side and makes it feel almost luminous. It is the kind of color that shifts enough to stay interesting throughout the day without ever going off-script.
Empire Gold Undertones
The dominant undertone here is golden yellow, and that is the note most people notice first. But dig a little deeper and you will find a secondary warmth that leans slightly toward amber or even a soft brownish ochre. This is what keeps Empire Gold from reading like a bright mustard. The brown grounding gives it that aged, antique quality.
Some designers describe this color as having a faint orange warmth, especially on south-facing walls late in the day. Others insist the yellow-gold stays clean without any orange push. The truth depends heavily on your light. In a room with warm artificial lighting, the amber undertone steps forward. Under cooler daylight, the yellow stays honest. Either way, there is no green or gray lurking underneath. This is a straightforwardly warm color from top to bottom.
Where Empire Gold Works Best
Empire Gold is part of Sherwin-Williams' Historic and Victorian collections for good reason. It was made for spaces with architectural character, like formal dining rooms, traditional living rooms, and kitchens with warm wood cabinetry. If your home has crown molding, wainscoting, or paneled doors, this color will feel right at home.
It works best in rooms that get a mix of natural and artificial light. A dining room that is used mostly in the evening will benefit from its warm glow under lamps. In a kitchen, it pairs naturally with wood tones and warm metals like brass and copper. As an accent wall in a living room, it creates a strong focal point without overwhelming the space. Just be mindful of pairing it in very small, dark rooms where its medium depth could feel heavy.
Where to put Empire Gold
This is arguably the best room for Empire Gold. The warm, candlelit quality it takes on in evening light makes a dining room feel intimate and inviting. Pair it with a creamy white on the ceiling and dark wood furniture for a classic look. Brass light fixtures and candleholders will pick up on the gold undertone.
Use Empire Gold on all four walls for a cocooning effect, or limit it to a single accent wall behind a sofa or fireplace. In a living room, it grounds the space and feels collected rather than trendy. Balance it with upholstery in deep blues, warm grays, or rich leather tones.
Empire Gold works well in kitchens with warm wood cabinets, butcher block countertops, or copper accents. It reads as warm and appetizing without veering into yellow-kitchen territory. Best on an accent wall or in a breakfast nook rather than on every surface, unless the kitchen is large and well-lit.
When you want just a hit of warmth, Empire Gold on a single wall does the job well. It is saturated enough to make a statement but grounded enough not to look cartoonish. Try it behind open shelving, a gallery wall, or a bed with a simple upholstered headboard.
What to Pair With Empire Gold
Empire Gold plays well with colors that either echo its warmth or offer a deliberate contrast. For trim, a clean warm white works better than a stark bright white, which can look clinical against this much gold. Creamy off-whites and soft ivories are your best bet for door and window casings.
For complementary pairings, think about deep navy, warm charcoal, or a muted sage green on adjacent walls or in furnishings. These cooler or darker tones let Empire Gold be the star without the room feeling one-note. If you want a tonal scheme, pair it with a lighter warm tan on the ceiling and a deeper brown or bronze on accent furniture.
Empire Gold vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Empire Gold at LRV 37.2.
Colors that clash with Empire Gold
A true cool gray on adjacent walls can make Empire Gold look muddy or jarringly warm. The contrast in temperature draws attention to the yellow in an unflattering way.
A stark, blue-white trim like a pure bright white will create a harsh contrast that makes Empire Gold look overly yellow and the trim look cold.
Pink and mauve tones fight with the strong yellow-gold undertone in Empire Gold. The combination can look dated or unbalanced, pulling the eye in two conflicting directions.
Common questions
The hex code for Empire Gold is #C19F6E, and its RGB values are 193, 159, and 110.
Empire Gold has an LRV of 37.2. That places it in the medium range, meaning it reflects a moderate amount of light. It is dark enough to make a statement but not so dark that it will close in a room.
Empire Gold's primary undertone is golden yellow, supported by a warm amber or brownish ochre secondary note. Some designers see a slight orange warmth in incandescent lighting, while others find it stays true to a clean gold. The undertone stays warm in all conditions, with no gray or green lurking underneath.
It depends on the room's size and light. In a well-lit dining room or living room, Empire Gold on all walls creates a rich, enveloping warmth. In a small, dark room with little natural light, it could feel heavy. In those cases, use it on one or two accent walls and pair it with a lighter warm neutral on the remaining surfaces.
A warm or creamy off-white trim is your best choice. Avoid stark bright whites, which can clash with Empire Gold's warmth and make both colors look wrong. If you want more contrast, a deep chocolate brown or warm charcoal trim can also work in traditional or historic interiors.