Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Tallow |
| SKU | No. 203 |
| Hex | #E5DEBC |
| RGB | 229, 222, 188 |
| HSL | 50°, 44%, 82% |
| LRV | 75 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Neutral |
What Color Is Tallow, Really?
Tallow reads as a warm yellow tone — very light — near-white, broadens small spaces. The notes below cover how Farrow & Ball No. 203 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Tallow
Tallow shines on ceilings, trim and in small or low-light rooms where you need to stretch the light — and as a calm whole-home backdrop. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
How Lighting Changes Tallow
Tallow is very light — LRV 75, close to white. It opens up small or dim rooms and keeps walls feeling airy. Its yellow 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. In north light it can read slightly cooler; a warm white trim alongside keeps it from going clinical.
Most complaints about Tallow 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 →Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Farrow & Ball No. 203 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 Tallow 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 #E5DEBC in HSL space. Pair Tallow 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.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Tallow behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY TALLOW ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
Not sure about Tallow in your room?
Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.