Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | So Merlot |
| SKU | PPU1-15 |
| Hex | #84525B |
| RGB | 132, 82, 91 |
| HSL | 349°, 23%, 42% |
| LRV | 12 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Red |
About Behr So Merlot
With an LRV of 12, So Merlot is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its red undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
So Merlot works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Closest matches by brand
14 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all red from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to So Merlot within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #84525B in HSL space. Pair So Merlot with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Behr So Merlot Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching So Merlot from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Behr PPU1-15 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of So Merlot
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Aged Wine (SW 6299), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for So Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Aged Wine swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of So Merlot
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to So Merlot is Cherokee Brick (2082-30) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cherokee Brick swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of So Merlot
At Valspar, the closest color to So Merlot is Maroon Rover (V079-6) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12.1 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Maroon Rover swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of So Merlot
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to So Merlot is Old Burgundy (PPG13-05) — very close at ΔE 2.41, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Old Burgundy swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of So Merlot
Glidden has no exact twin of So Merlot. The nearest is Tomahawk Red (90RR 11/257) at ΔE 3.79 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tomahawk Red swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of So Merlot
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Baked Apples (301-6DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for So Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Baked Apples swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of So Merlot
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to So Merlot is Passionate (HGSW 2032) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Passionate swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of So Merlot
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to So Merlot is In A Maroon Mood (DEFD06) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full In A Maroon Mood swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of So Merlot
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of So Merlot. The nearest is Eating Room Red (NO. 43) at ΔE 4.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Eating Room Red swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of So Merlot
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Exotica (0108), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.43). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for So Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Exotica swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of So Merlot
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to So Merlot is Starlet (0094) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Starlet swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of So Merlot
At C2 Paint, the closest color to So Merlot is Railroad (C2-535) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Railroad swatch →
Clare Equivalent of So Merlot
Clare has no exact twin of So Merlot. The nearest is Vintage (PNT100-DP-67) at ΔE 4.82 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 10 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Vintage swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of So Merlot
At Kompozit, the closest color to So Merlot is Starlet (0094) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Starlet swatch →