Merlot
C2-503 · #5C4247 · LRV 7 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Weathervane2
- 2Merlot7
- 3Porpoise13
- 4Cavern Clay20
What Color Is Merlot, Really?
Merlot reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how C2 Paint C2-503 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Merlot
Merlot earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Merlot
At LRV 7, Merlot is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Merlot are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-503 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Deep MaroonSW 72 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.1 | 7 | Color page → |
| Behr | Raspberry TruffleMQ1-49 · Behr | 0.9 | 7 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | ChambourdAF-645 · Benjamin Moore | 4.4 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Raspberry TruffleM101 · Valspar | 2.8 | 6.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | GooseberryPPG1048-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.5 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Deep Wine75RR 06/129 · Glidden | 1.8 | 6 | Color page → |
Similar C2 Paint Colors
The nearest shades to Merlot within C2 Paint's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #5C4247 in HSL space. Pair Merlot with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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