Blue Ground → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Farrow & Ball Blue Ground (No.210), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Blue Ground
If you love Farrow & Ball Blue Ground but need a Behr 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 Behr, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Blue Ground (No.210) is a medium-dark blue with historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 35) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Blue Ground and every Behr 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 Behr option is Sage Green (PPU11-07) with a Delta E of 3.5, which is a "good match" level match. Sage Green is the closest Behr option. Similar character. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Blue Ground
Sage Green is the closest Behr option. Similar character.
| Blue Ground | Sage Green | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 35 | 35 |
| Hex | #A9B9B9 | #ACB4A5 |
| Undertone | Historic Blue-Gray | Muted Sage |
| Family | Blue | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Blue Ground has historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile.
Sage Green has muted sage undertones. A muted sage green with gray undertones. Earthy and organic. Behr's take on the sage trend.
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. Blue Ground's historic blue-gray quality may read differently than Sage Green's muted sage 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
Blue Ground in Your Room
In bright rooms, the blue is soft and present. In dim rooms, a sophisticated cool gray. Under warm light, the blue calms.
Sage Green in Your Room
The green is pleasant and natural. In bright light, it reads as a definite sage. In dim rooms, the gray takes over.
LRV and Brightness
Blue Ground has an LRV of 35, while Sage Green has an LRV of 35. 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 Blue Ground
Farrow & Ball recommends Blue Ground for: bedroom, living room, bathroom, hallway, dining room. With an LRV of 35, 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.
Sage Green is recommended for: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, office. 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.
Blue Ground in Other Brands
Looking for Blue Ground equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Blue Ground (No.210) is Sage Green (PPU11-07) with a Delta E of 3.5, which rates as a "good match" match. Sage Green is the closest Behr 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. Blue Ground is a Farrow & Ball color with historic blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 35. Sage Green is a Behr color with muted sage undertones and an LRV of 35. With a Delta E of 3.5, 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 3.5, 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 Behr equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Behr. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Behr 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.