Pigeon Alt → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Farrow & Ball Pigeon Alt (No.47), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Pigeon Alt
If you love Farrow & Ball Pigeon Alt 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.
Pigeon Alt (No.47) is a dark green with smoky green undertones. A smoky, muted green. Darker than Pigeon, with more green saturation. The color of green wood smoke rising against a gray sky. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 18) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pigeon Alt 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 Laurel Garland (PPU11-09) with a Delta E of 2.8, which is a "good match" level match. Laurel Garland is the closest Behr option. Very close match. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Pigeon Alt
Laurel Garland is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
| Pigeon Alt | Laurel Garland | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 18 | 23 |
| Hex | #848C82 | #969E91 |
| Undertone | Smoky Green | Dark Sage |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Pigeon Alt has smoky green undertones. A smoky, muted green. Darker than Pigeon, with more green saturation. The color of green wood smoke rising against a gray sky.
Laurel Garland has dark sage undertones. A dark, muted sage green. Deeper than Sage Wisdom, lighter than In The Moment. The rich, earthy green of dried laurel leaves.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Pigeon Alt in Your Room
The smoky green is atmospheric. In bright rooms, the green is definite. In dim rooms, a moody dark gray-green.
Laurel Garland in Your Room
In bright rooms, the sage is earthy and grounding. In dim rooms, reads as a warm dark gray-green. A solid mid-dark sage.
LRV and Brightness
Pigeon Alt has an LRV of 18, while Laurel Garland has an LRV of 23. 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 Pigeon Alt
Farrow & Ball recommends Pigeon Alt for: accent wall, kitchen, exterior, office, bedroom. With an LRV of 18, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Laurel Garland is recommended for: kitchen, accent wall, exterior, office, bedroom. 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.
Pigeon Alt in Other Brands
Looking for Pigeon Alt equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Pigeon Alt (No.47) is Laurel Garland (PPU11-09) with a Delta E of 2.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Laurel Garland is the closest Behr option. Very close match. 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. Pigeon Alt is a Farrow & Ball color with smoky green undertones and an LRV of 18. Laurel Garland is a Behr color with dark sage undertones and an LRV of 23. With a Delta E of 2.8, 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 2.8, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
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.