Light Brown vs Barren Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 11.9, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Barren Yellow is a little darker, cooler than Light Brown.

Can I use Barren Yellow instead of Light Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Barren Yellow is a little darker, cooler than Light Brown.

Can I use Light Brown instead of Barren Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Light Brown is a little lighter, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.