Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Merlot |
| SKU | C2-503 |
| Hex | #5C4247 |
| RGB | 92, 66, 71 |
| HSL | 348°, 16%, 31% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Brown |
About C2 Paint 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.
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.
Closest matches by brand
17 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
Clare
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar C2 Paint colors
closest in the C2 Paint deckThe 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.
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.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
C2 Paint Merlot Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching 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 C2 Paint C2-503 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merlot is Deep Maroon (SW 72) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Maroon swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Merlot
The closest Behr equivalent of Merlot is Raspberry Truffle (MQ1-49). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If Behr is your counter, order Raspberry Truffle and you'll get the same color. See the full Raspberry Truffle swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Merlot
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Chambourd (AF-645) at ΔE 4.37 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chambourd swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Merlot
At Valspar, the closest color to Merlot is Raspberry Truffle (M101) — very close at ΔE 2.84, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6.7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Raspberry Truffle swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Merlot is Gooseberry (PPG1048-7) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gooseberry swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
Glidden's nearest match is Deep Wine (75RR 06/129), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Deep Wine swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Merlot
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Aged Beauty (401-7DB) at ΔE 4.28 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aged Beauty swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merlot is Blackberry Bramble (HGSW 3011) — very close at ΔE 3.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackberry Bramble swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Merlot
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Merlot is Grapes of Wrath (DET409) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grapes of Wrath swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Merlot
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Merlot is Moody Fig (JG-155) — very close at ΔE 3.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Moody Fig swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Merlot
The closest Farrow & Ball equivalent of Merlot is Brinjal (NO. 222). At ΔE 0.67 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If Farrow & Ball is your counter, order Brinjal and you'll get the same color. See the full Brinjal swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Merlot
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Merlot is Beauport Aubergine (H0067) — very close at ΔE 2.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Beauport Aubergine swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Merlot
The closest Rodda equivalent of Merlot is After Party (R119). At ΔE 0.96 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). If Rodda is your counter, order After Party and you'll get the same color. See the full After Party swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Merlot
Clare has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Night Groove (PNT100-DP-77) at ΔE 4.46 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Night Groove swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Merlot
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Merlot is Poe (POE) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Poe swatch →