Studio Taupe → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Behr Studio Taupe (PPU5-06), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Studio Taupe
If you love Behr Studio Taupe 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.
Studio Taupe (PPU5-06) is a medium taupe with warm taupe undertones. A rich, warm taupe with balanced beige-gray undertones. Darker and warmer than Silver Drop, with more presence on the wall. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 45) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Studio Taupe 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 Pavilion Gray (No.242) with a Delta E of 3.7, which is a "good match" level match. Pavilion Gray 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 Studio Taupe
Pavilion Gray is the closest F&B option. Similar character.
| Studio Taupe | Pavilion Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 45 | 44 |
| Hex | #B9AEA0 | #BDB8B5 |
| Undertone | Warm Taupe | Warm Pink-Gray |
| Family | Taupe | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Studio Taupe has warm taupe undertones. A rich, warm taupe with balanced beige-gray undertones. Darker and warmer than Silver Drop, with more presence on the wall.
Pavilion Gray has warm pink-gray undertones. A medium gray with warm pink-mauve undertones. More substantial than Ammonite, with the subtle warmth Farrow & Ball is known for.
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. Studio Taupe's warm taupe quality may read differently than Pavilion Gray's warm pink-gray 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
Studio Taupe in Your Room
Reads as a warm, medium neutral in most rooms. The warmth is consistent and reliable. A strong choice for feature walls and cozy spaces.
Pavilion Gray in Your Room
The pink-mauve shows in cooler light and north-facing rooms. In warm light, it reads as a balanced mid-gray. Elegant and sophisticated.
LRV and Brightness
Studio Taupe has an LRV of 45, while Pavilion Gray has an LRV of 44. 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 Studio Taupe
Behr recommends Studio Taupe for: living room, bedroom, dining room, accent wall, hallway. With an LRV of 45, this is a medium 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.
Pavilion Gray is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, office. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Pavilion Gray in the same rooms you planned for Studio Taupe.
Studio Taupe in Other Brands
Looking for Studio Taupe equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Studio Taupe (PPU5-06) is Pavilion Gray (No.242) with a Delta E of 3.7, which rates as a "good match" match. Pavilion Gray 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. Studio Taupe is a Behr color with warm taupe undertones and an LRV of 45. Pavilion Gray is a Farrow & Ball color with warm pink-gray undertones and an LRV of 44. 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.