Paean Black
No. 294 · #484348 · LRV 6 — neutral with no strong undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Cordovan Brown0
- 2Paean Black6
What Color Is Paean Black, Really?
Paean Black reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Farrow & Ball No. 294 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Paean Black
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.
How Lighting Changes 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.
Most complaints about Paean Black 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.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Farrow & Ball No. 294 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Plum BrownSW 6272 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.6 | 6 | Color page → |
| Behr | SarsaparillaHDC-AC-26 · Behr | 2.6 | 6 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Deep Caviar2130-20 · Benjamin Moore | 3.0 | 7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | BlackhearthPPG1003-7 · PPG / Glidden | 0.9 | 6 | Color page → |
| Glidden | BlackhearthPPG1003-7 · Glidden | 0.9 | 6 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Desert Fig446-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.6 | 6 | Color page → |
Similar Farrow & Ball Colors
The 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.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
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.
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