Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Merlot |
| SKU | V078-6 |
| Hex | #663F44 |
| RGB | 102, 63, 68 |
| HSL | 352°, 24%, 32% |
| LRV | 6.8 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Valspar 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.
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.
Closest matches by brand
15 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe 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.
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.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Valspar Merlot Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Merlot 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 Valspar V078-6 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Deep Maroon (SW 72), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.43). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Deep Maroon swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Merlot
Behr's nearest match is Imperial Jewel (T14-11), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.34). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Imperial Jewel swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Merlot
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is New Pilgrim Red (ES-21), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.87). It runs noticeably darker (LRV 0 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full New Pilgrim Red swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Merlot is Gooseberry (PPG1048-7) — very close at ΔE 2.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gooseberry swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
At Glidden, the closest color to Merlot is Gooseberry (PPG1048-7) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gooseberry swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Merlot
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Merlot is Aged Beauty (401-7DB). At ΔE 0.93 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Aged Beauty and you'll get the same color. See the full Aged Beauty swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merlot is Blackberry Bramble (HGSW 3011) — very close at ΔE 2.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackberry Bramble swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Merlot
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Jazz Berry Jam (DET401), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Jazz Berry Jam swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Merlot
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Brinjal (NO. 222) at ΔE 4.45 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Brinjal swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Merlot
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Merlot is Hartline Red (H003) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hartline Red swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Merlot
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Merlot is Beetroot (H0001). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Beetroot and you'll get the same color. See the full Beetroot swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Merlot
At Rodda, the closest color to Merlot is Autumn Maple (CA228) — very close at ΔE 3.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Autumn Maple swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Merlot
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Merlot is Raj (C2-517). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6.8). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Raj and you'll get the same color. See the full Raj swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Merlot
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Poe (POE) at ΔE 4.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Poe swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Merlot
Kompozit's nearest match is Kung Fu (0109), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6.8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Kung Fu swatch →