Elephant's Breath → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath (No.229), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Elephant's Breath
If you love Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath 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.
Elephant's Breath (No.229) is a medium-dark greige with warm purple-gray undertones. A complex, medium warm gray with purple-mauve undertones. One of Farrow & Ball's most popular and distinctive colors. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 36) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Elephant's Breath 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.
Honestly, Behr does not have a perfect equivalent for Elephant's Breath. The closest option is Studio Taupe (PPU5-06) with a Delta E of 5.5, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Studio Taupe is the closest Behr option but lacks the distinctive purple-gray undertone that makes Elephant's Breath iconic. Similar depth and warmth. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Behr store.
Behr Matches for Elephant's Breath
Studio Taupe is the closest Behr option but lacks the distinctive purple-gray undertone that makes Elephant's Breath iconic. Similar depth and warmth.
| Elephant's Breath | Studio Taupe | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 36 | 45 |
| Hex | #BBB2A7 | #B9AEA0 |
| Undertone | Warm Purple-Gray | Warm Taupe |
| Family | Greige | Taupe |
Undertone Comparison
Elephant's Breath has warm purple-gray undertones. A complex, medium warm gray with purple-mauve undertones. One of Farrow & Ball's most popular and distinctive colors.
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.
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. Elephant's Breath's warm purple-gray quality may read differently than Studio Taupe's warm 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
Elephant's Breath in Your Room
The purple undertone is most apparent in natural daylight. In warm artificial light, it reads as a sophisticated warm gray. Under cool light, the mauve comes forward beautifully.
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.
LRV and Brightness
Elephant's Breath has an LRV of 36, while Studio Taupe has an LRV of 45. That means Studio Taupe reflects more light. If you switch from Elephant's Breath to Studio Taupe, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Elephant's Breath
Farrow & Ball recommends Elephant's Breath for: living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room, office. With an LRV of 36, 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.
Studio Taupe is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, accent wall, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Studio Taupe in the same rooms you planned for Elephant's Breath.
Elephant's Breath in Other Brands
Looking for Elephant's Breath equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Elephant's Breath (No.229) is Studio Taupe (PPU5-06) with a Delta E of 5.5, which rates as a "approximate" match. Studio Taupe is the closest Behr option but lacks the distinctive purple-gray undertone that makes Elephant's Breath iconic. Similar depth and warmth. 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. Elephant's Breath is a Farrow & Ball color with warm purple-gray undertones and an LRV of 36. Studio Taupe is a Behr color with warm taupe undertones and an LRV of 45. With a Delta E of 5.5, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 5.5, 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.