Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Merlot |
| SKU | DE5055 |
| Hex | #A44A56 |
| RGB | 164, 74, 86 |
| HSL | 352°, 38%, 47% |
| LRV | 13 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Red |
About Dunn-Edwards Merlot
With an LRV of 13, 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.
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
13 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
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Merlot within Dunn-Edwards'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 #A44A56 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.
Dunn-Edwards 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 Dunn-Edwards DE5055 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Merlot
At Behr, the closest color to Merlot is Powder Room (PPU1-07) — very close at ΔE 2.24, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Powder Room swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Merlot
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Fascinator Rose (2085-30), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.87). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Fascinator Rose swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Merlot
Valspar has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Ruby Petals (M223) at ΔE 3.5 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 15 vs 13). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ruby Petals swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Wright Raspberry (FLLW577), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Wright Raspberry swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
At Glidden, the closest color to Merlot is Rose Wine (90RR 13/321) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rose Wine swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Merlot
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Merlot is Rubyshire Red (204-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rubyshire Red swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merlot is Impulsive (HGSW 2042) — very close at ΔE 2.78, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Impulsive swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Merlot
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Merlot is Rectory Red (NO. 217) — very close at ΔE 3.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rectory Red swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Merlot
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Moonrose (1103), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Moonrose swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Merlot
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Moonrose (1103) at ΔE 3.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Moonrose swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Merlot
C2 Paint's nearest match is Plum Tomato (BD61), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Plum Tomato swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Merlot
Kompozit has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Moonrose (1103) at ΔE 3.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 13). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Moonrose swatch →