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Merlot Red 2006-10
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Saturated red (a color, not a neutral)
In CIELAB, Merlot Red sits at L* 39.1, a* 39.0, b* 30.2. Its hue angle is 38° and its chroma is 49.3, so it reads as an outright red rather than a neutral. It classifies as warm. Among Benjamin Moore colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 97%.
LRV 11.6: very dark
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 11.6, Merlot Red is lighter than 9% of Benjamin Moore colors. Near-black depth. Use on doors, trim, cabinetry, exteriors or moody rooms with strong artificial lighting.
Closest Sherwin-Williams match to Merlot Red
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Red | SW 0057 | 1.77 | Very close | |
| Brick Paver | SW 7599 | 2.23 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Rave Red | SW 6608 | 2.89 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Closest Behr match to Merlot Red
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Cracker | PPU2-16 | 3.39 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Morocco Red | PPU2-17 | 3.72 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Rodeo Red | 200D-7 | 3.74 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochineal Red | CW-330 | 0.95 | Practically identical | |
| Smoldering Red | 2007-10 | 1.47 | Very close | |
| Red Oxide | 2088-10 | 2.14 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Grand Canyon Red | 2090-10 | 2.21 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Deep Rose | 2004-10 | 2.47 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Country Lane | 2088-20 | 2.51 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Benjamin Moore with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Deep Poinsettia 2091-30 · lighter, LRV 13.4
- Vintage Redware 2172-30 · lighter, LRV 13.3
- Sangria 2006-20 · lighter, LRV 13.0
- Toasted Chestnut 2174-10 · darker, LRV 10.4
- Flamenco CSP-1195 · darker, LRV 10.8
- Raspberry Truffle 2080-10 · darker, LRV 10.0
Colors that go with Merlot Red
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Benjamin Moore color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Venezuelan Sea 2054-30 · complementary (180°)
- Chinaberry 1351 · analogous (−30°)
- Mexican Hot Chocolate CSP-1080 · analogous (+30°)
- Amazon Moss 2037-10 · triadic (120°)
- Brilliant Blue 2065-30 · triadic (240°)
Merlot Red vs popular colors
- Redwood (Benjamin Moore ES-20, ΔE 7.1) is darker (LRV 8.9 vs 11.6), more blue/cool, more green, more muted.
- Boston Brick (Benjamin Moore 2092-30, ΔE 7.2) is about as light, more blue/cool, more green, more muted.
- Caliente (Benjamin Moore AF-290, ΔE 7.4) is darker (LRV 8.8 vs 11.6), more blue/cool, more red/pink.