Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Ammonite |
| SKU | No. 274 |
| Hex | #C9C2B0 |
| RGB | 201, 194, 176 |
| HSL | 43°, 19%, 74% |
| LRV | 56 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
What Color Is Ammonite, Really?
Ammonite No. 274 is a light, soft greige that reads as a warm gray with a quiet beige backbone. Its hex value sits at #C9C2B0, and the numbers explain the calm: hue lands in the warm yellow-tan range but the saturation is only about 19 percent, so there is barely any color pushing forward. What you see is a gentle stone tone that stays close to neutral rather than a true gray or a true beige.
With an LRV of 56, it bounces a fair amount of daylight without turning stark or clinical. That balance is why it has become the F&B color that anchors so many trim and wall pairings.
It suits people who want a warm, restful backdrop that plays well with almost anything, and it fits both period homes and clean modern rooms that would feel cold in a bluer gray.
On paper Ammonite leans warm, sitting in the yellow-tan part of the wheel. In practice the saturation is low enough (around 19 percent) that it behaves as a near-neutral with a slight warm lean, not a color that announces itself. Most of the time it reads as a soft warm gray, and the beige only surfaces in certain light.
The undertone shows most in low light, against pure white trim, or next to cooler grays, where Ammonite can suddenly look browner and warmer than expected. Beside genuinely warm beiges it can swing the other way and look grayer.
Test it against a bright white card and against a cool gray sample on the same wall. If it looks muddy next to white, that is the warm base doing its job. Always judge a large sample, since the lean is subtle and easy to misread in a small chip.
Best Rooms and Uses for Ammonite
At an LRV of 56, Ammonite is a versatile mid-tone that works almost anywhere in the home. It is light enough for whole-room walls yet has enough depth to feel grounded, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and open-plan spaces where you want continuity from room to room.
It is a strong choice for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, giving a soft warm alternative to plain white or gray without reading as a color. On trim it works when paired with lighter walls, and it makes a calm background for artwork and darker furniture.
Outside, it performs as a gentle warm-stone body color that reads natural in daylight, and it is soft enough that most people use it as a field color rather than a bold front-door statement. For contrast and drama, save the darker coordinating colors for the door and reserve Ammonite for the larger surfaces.
How Lighting Changes Ammonite
With an LRV of 56, Ammonite is a mid-light color, so it reflects daylight well but has enough body to avoid looking washed out. Lighting decides which way it tips.
In north-facing rooms, which get cooler indirect light, the warm base is an asset and keeps the space from feeling gray and flat, though it will read a shade deeper and softer than the chip. East-facing rooms show it warm in the morning and cooler by afternoon. South and west exposures flood it with warm light, where it looks its lightest and most beige, sometimes almost creamy late in the day.
Bulbs matter just as much. Warm white bulbs around 2700K push the beige forward and make it cozy. Cooler bulbs at 4000K and up pull it toward gray and can flatten the warmth. Sample on more than one wall and check it after dark.
Most complaints about Ammonite 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.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Ammonite vs Similar Colors
Ammonite No. 274 at LRV 56 is easy to confuse with its close neighbors, but the differences show on the wall. Cornforth White No. 228 at LRV 60 is lighter and leans cooler and grayer, so it feels more like a soft gray than a stone. If you want more of a true off-white and less warmth, Cornforth is the pick; if you want warmth and a little more depth, choose Ammonite.
Old White No. 4 at LRV 52 is a shade deeper and noticeably greener and more traditional, better suited to period rooms and darker trim. Bone No. 15 at LRV 53 is also deeper and reads more clearly beige and yellow, which makes it feel warmer and older next to the more balanced Ammonite.
Against Strong White No. 2001 at LRV 81, the story is simple: Strong White is a wall-or-trim white, while Ammonite is a full mid-tone color.
Colors That Go With Ammonite
For crisp trim, pick a warm white so the transition stays soft rather than sharp. Wevet No. 273 at LRV 84 and Pointing No. 2003 at LRV 84 are both clean warm whites that frame Ammonite without going cold. Strong White No. 2001 at LRV 81 is a slightly cooler option if you want a bit more contrast.
For a second wall color or a related tone, Cornforth White No. 228 at LRV 60 sits just a touch lighter and cooler, useful for ceilings or an adjoining room. Skimming Stone No. 241 at LRV 65 is another gentle step up in lightness.
For accents and doors, go dark: Hague Blue No. 30 at LRV 6, Down Pipe No. 26 at LRV 11, or Inchyra Blue No. 289 at LRV 12 all give strong contrast. Natural oak and walnut and both brushed brass and matte black hardware sit comfortably with the warm base.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Farrow & Ball No. 274 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Ammonite within Farrow & Ball'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 #C9C2B0 in HSL space. Pair Ammonite 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.
The Questions Everyone Asks
Is Ammonite warm or cool?
Ammonite is warm, but only gently. Its hue sits in the yellow-tan range while its saturation is low, around 19 percent, so it reads as a soft warm gray rather than an obvious beige. In warm light it looks cozier and browner, and in cool north light it stays calm and slightly grayer. Most people experience it as a warm-leaning neutral.
Is Ammonite more gray or more brown?
It sits between the two, which is why it is called a greige. The warm brown base keeps it from feeling cold like a true gray, but the low saturation stops it from looking like a full beige. Next to pure white it can look browner, and next to warm beiges it can look grayer. On its own it usually reads as a balanced soft stone.
What trim white goes with Ammonite?
A warm white keeps the pairing soft. Wevet No. 273 at LRV 84 and Pointing No. 2003 at LRV 84 are both clean warm whites that sit naturally above Ammonite without a harsh line. If you want a little more contrast and a slightly cooler edge, Strong White No. 2001 at LRV 81 works well too.
Does Ammonite work on cabinets and exteriors?
Yes. On kitchen and bathroom cabinets it gives a warm, restful alternative to plain white or gray without reading as a strong color, and it pairs well with brass or matte black hardware. Outside it works as a soft warm-stone body color that looks natural in daylight. It is gentle, so most people use it as a field color rather than a bold accent.
What does an LRV of 56 mean for Ammonite?
LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 for black to 100 for pure white. At 56, Ammonite is a mid-light color. It bounces a useful amount of daylight and keeps rooms feeling open, but it has enough depth that it will not look washed out or clinical. That balance makes it easy to use on whole-room walls.
How is Ammonite different from Cornforth White?
Cornforth White No. 228 has an LRV of 60, so it is lighter than Ammonite at 56, and it leans cooler and grayer. Cornforth reads more like a soft gray off-white, while Ammonite carries more warmth and a little more depth. Choose Cornforth for a cooler, airier feel and Ammonite when you want a warmer, more grounded neutral.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Ammonite behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY AMMONITE ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
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