Mouse's Back (No.40)
A warm, earthy brown-taupe with the subtle, organic quality of a field mouse. One of F&B's most beloved neutrals for its depth and warmth. Not a color that tries hard; it simply is.
About Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back
Mouse's Back (No.40) is a taupe from Farrow & Ball's collection with an LRV of 22 and warm mouse-brown undertones. A warm, earthy brown-taupe with the subtle, organic quality of a field mouse. One of F&B's most beloved neutrals for its depth and warmth. Not a color that tries hard; it simply is.
Mouse's Back is a deeper color with an LRV of 22, meaning it absorbs more light than it reflects. This gives it real drama and sophistication. It works well on accent walls, exterior siding, front doors, cabinets, and architectural features where you want a bold statement. In a full room application, make sure you have adequate lighting and use bright white trim to prevent the space from feeling too dark.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
Mouse's Back has an LRV of 22, placing it in the medium-dark range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.
Undertone Analysis
Mouse's Back has warm mouse-brown undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.
A warm, earthy brown-taupe with the subtle, organic quality of a field mouse. One of F&B's most beloved neutrals for its depth and warmth. Not a color that tries hard; it simply is. Warm undertones like these pair naturally with other warm elements: honey-toned wood floors, brass and gold hardware, cream-colored textiles, and warm-toned furnishings. They can clash with strongly cool elements like icy blue accents or chrome fixtures, though the effect depends on the strength of the undertone.
Lighting Behavior
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a rich warm taupe. In dim rooms, cozy and intimate. Under candlelight, deeply atmospheric.
Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Mouse's Back with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.
Best Rooms for Mouse's Back
Farrow & Ball recommends Mouse's Back for: living room, dining room, bedroom, accent wall, study.
On an accent wall, Mouse's Back creates a focal point that draws the eye and adds visual depth to the room. Pair it with a lighter color on the remaining walls for the best contrast.
Closest Matches in Other Brands
Find the closest equivalent to Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.
Benjamin Moore Matches
Kingsport Gray is less brown. Mouse's Back has more earthy warmth.
View all Benjamin Moore matches →Sherwin Williams Matches
Mink is the closest SW match. Both are warm, earthy dark taupes.
View all Sherwin Williams matches →Coordinating Colors
These colors pair beautifully with Mouse's Back for a cohesive palette. Use them for trim, accents, adjacent rooms, or furniture to create a well-designed space.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back is Mink (SW 6004) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Mink is the closest SW match. Both are warm, earthy dark taupes. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart, while 2 to 4 means the difference is subtle.
Mouse's Back has warm mouse-brown undertones. A warm, earthy brown-taupe with the subtle, organic quality of a field mouse. One of F&B's most beloved neutrals for its depth and warmth. Not a color that tries hard; it simply is. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.
Mouse's Back (No.40) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 22, which puts it in the medium-dark range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 22, this is a darker color that creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pair it with bright white trim for the best contrast.
Mouse's Back leans warm. The warm mouse-brown undertones give it a cozy, inviting quality. It pairs naturally with other warm elements like wood tones, brass hardware, and cream textiles. In north-facing rooms, the warmth is especially welcoming.
Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.