Merlot
SW 2704 · #51323B · LRV 4 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Merlot4
- 2Porpoise13
- 3Cavern Clay20
What Color Is Merlot, Really?
Merlot reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 2704 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Merlot
Merlot earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Merlot
At LRV 4, Merlot 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. Its magenta 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 rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Merlot 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 2704 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Wild Manzanita700B-7 · Behr | 2.5 | 5 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Dark Purple2073-10 · Benjamin Moore | 3.6 | 6 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Winery RedHGSW 3411 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 3.9 | 4 | Color page → |
| Diamond Vogel | Royal IrisH067 · Diamond Vogel | 4.9 | 6 | Color page → |
| C2 Paint | Black LocustBD42 · C2 Paint | 4.2 | 4 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Merlot within Sherwin-Williams'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 #51323B in HSL space. Pair Merlot with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Merlot?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question