Dunn-Edwards Merlot#A44A56 · LRV 13
Merlot reads as a red / warm — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Dunn-Edwards DE5055 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Merlot |
| SKU | DE5055 |
| Hex | #A44A56 |
| RGB | 164, 74, 86 |
| HSL | 352°, 38%, 47% |
| LRV | 13 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| 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.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 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 red from that brand.
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Behr
Farrow & Ball
Sherwin-Williams
Valspar
Magnolia Home
Clare
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.