Merlot
V078-6 · #663F44 · LRV 6.8 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Redwood0
- 2Merlot6.8
- 3Million Dollar Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
What Color Is Merlot, Really?
Merlot reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Valspar V078-6 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. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
How Lighting Changes Merlot
At LRV 6.8, 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 red 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 Valspar V078-6 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 | Deep MaroonSW 72 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.4 | 7 | Color page → |
| Behr | Imperial JewelT14-11 · Behr | 1.3 | 7 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | New Pilgrim RedES-21 · Benjamin Moore | 1.9 | 0 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | GooseberryPPG1048-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.0 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | GooseberryPPG1048-7 · Glidden | 2.4 | 7 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Aged Beauty401-7DB · Dutch Boy | 0.9 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Merlot within Valspar'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 #663F44 in HSL space. Pair Merlot with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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