Pewter Tray → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Behr Pewter Tray (PPU18-14-2), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Pewter Tray
If you love Behr Pewter Tray but need a Farrow & Ball alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pewter Tray (PPU18-14-2) is a medium-dark gray with cool pewter gray undertones. A cool, pewter-toned mid-tone gray. Clean and balanced. Between Evening Hush and Pewter Mug in depth. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 27) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pewter Tray and every Farrow & Ball color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Farrow & Ball option is Mole's Breath (No.276) with a Delta E of 3.7, which is a "good match" level match. Mole's Breath is the closest F&B option. Similar character. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Pewter Tray
Mole's Breath is the closest F&B option. Similar character.
| Pewter Tray | Mole's Breath | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 27 | 26 |
| Hex | #A19F9B | #9F9991 |
| Undertone | Cool Pewter Gray | Warm Mole Taupe |
| Family | Gray | Taupe |
Undertone Comparison
Pewter Tray has cool pewter gray undertones. A cool, pewter-toned mid-tone gray. Clean and balanced. Between Evening Hush and Pewter Mug in depth.
Mole's Breath has warm mole taupe undertones. A warm taupe named for the underground creature. Lighter than Mouse's Back, deeper than Charleston Gray. Earthy, warm, and utterly F&B.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Pewter Tray's cool pewter gray quality may read differently than Mole's Breath's warm mole taupe character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Pewter Tray in Your Room
Cool and neutral. Reads as a balanced gray. Does not pull warm or cool strongly.
Mole's Breath in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a rich warm taupe. In dim rooms, cozy and intimate.
LRV and Brightness
Pewter Tray has an LRV of 27, while Mole's Breath has an LRV of 26. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Pewter Tray
Behr recommends Pewter Tray for: bathroom, office, hallway, bedroom, living room. With an LRV of 27, this is a medium-dark color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Mole's Breath is recommended for: living room, dining room, bedroom, accent wall, hallway. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Pewter Tray in Other Brands
Looking for Pewter Tray equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Pewter Tray (PPU18-14-2) is Mole's Breath (No.276) with a Delta E of 3.7, which rates as a "good match" match. Mole's Breath is the closest F&B option. Similar character. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Pewter Tray is a Behr color with cool pewter gray undertones and an LRV of 27. Mole's Breath is a Farrow & Ball color with warm mole taupe undertones and an LRV of 26. With a Delta E of 3.7, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 3.7, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.