Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Paean Black |
| SKU | No. 294 |
| Hex | #484348 |
| RGB | 72, 67, 72 |
| HSL | 300°, 4%, 27% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Black |
About Farrow & Ball Paean Black
At LRV 6, Paean Black 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. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Paean Black earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
Closest matches by brand
16 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 black from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Paean Black 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 #484348 in HSL space. Pair Paean Black 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.
Farrow & Ball Paean Black Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Paean Black 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 Farrow & Ball No. 294 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Paean Black
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Paean Black. The nearest is Plum Brown (SW 6272) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Plum Brown swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Paean Black
At Behr, the closest color to Paean Black is Sarsaparilla (HDC-AC-26) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sarsaparilla swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Paean Black
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Paean Black is Deep Caviar (2130-20) — very close at ΔE 3.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Caviar swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Paean Black
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Paean Black is Blackhearth (PPG1003-7). At ΔE 0.95 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Blackhearth and you'll get the same color. See the full Blackhearth swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Paean Black
The closest Glidden equivalent of Paean Black is Blackhearth (PPG1003-7). At ΔE 0.95 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). If Glidden is your counter, order Blackhearth and you'll get the same color. See the full Blackhearth swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Paean Black
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Paean Black. The nearest is Desert Fig (446-7DB) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Desert Fig swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Paean Black
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Paean Black. The nearest is Plum Brown (HGSW 3401) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Plum Brown swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Paean Black
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Paean Black is French Press Coffee (DEBN07) — very close at ΔE 2.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full French Press Coffee swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Paean Black
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Paean Black is Fine Black (JG-144) — very close at ΔE 2.51, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fine Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Paean Black
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Paean Black is Eleanor Ann (1229) — very close at ΔE 2.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Eleanor Ann swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Paean Black
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Paean Black. The nearest is Midnight Magic (0508) at ΔE 4.09 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Paean Black
The closest Rodda equivalent of Paean Black is Avant Gothic (R107). At ΔE 0.95 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6). If Rodda is your counter, order Avant Gothic and you'll get the same color. See the full Avant Gothic swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Paean Black
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Paean Black is Twilight Zone (C2-821) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Twilight Zone swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Paean Black
Kompozit has no exact twin of Paean Black. The nearest is Midnight Magic (0508) at ΔE 4.09 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →