Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Merlot |
| SKU | C2-503 |
| Hex | #5C4247 |
| RGB | 92, 66, 71 |
| HSL | 348°, 16%, 31% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| 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 at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all brown from that brand.
Farrow & Ball
Behr
Diamond Vogel
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Valspar
Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Dutch Boy
Kompozit
Benjamin Moore
Clare
Backdrop
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Kompozit Equivalent of Merlot
Kompozit doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Kung Fu (0109), is clearly different (ΔE 5.09). For an exact match, any Kompozit retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-503 instead. See the full Kung Fu swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Merlot
Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Purple Shadow (1215), is clearly different (ΔE 5.09). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-503 instead. See the full Purple Shadow swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Merlot
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, It's a Date (BD-IT), is clearly different (ΔE 10.67). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-503 instead. See the full It's a Date swatch →