Oval Room Blue → PPG
The closest PPG matches for Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue (No.85), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a PPG Equivalent for Oval Room Blue
If you love Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue but need a PPG 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 PPG, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Oval Room Blue (No.85) is a dark blue with rich blue-green undertones. A sophisticated, muted teal-blue named for the oval rooms in Georgian architecture. More blue than Inchyra Blue, more green than a navy. One of F&B's most distinctive and beloved colors. To find a good PPG match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 15) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Oval Room Blue and every PPG 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 PPG option is Elf (PPG1131-5) with a Delta E of 5, which is a "good match" level match. Elf is the closest PPG option. Similar character. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
PPG Matches for Oval Room Blue
Elf is the closest PPG option. Similar character.
| Oval Room Blue | Elf | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 15 | 25 |
| Hex | #758C8F | #99A698 |
| Undertone | Rich Blue-Green | Medium Sage |
| Family | Blue | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Oval Room Blue has rich blue-green undertones. A sophisticated, muted teal-blue named for the oval rooms in Georgian architecture. More blue than Inchyra Blue, more green than a navy. One of F&B's most distinctive and beloved colors.
Elf has medium sage undertones. A medium sage green named for its earthy, natural quality. PPG's answer to the medium 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. Oval Room Blue's rich blue-green quality may read differently than Elf's medium 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
Oval Room Blue in Your Room
In bright natural light, the teal-blue quality is striking and beautiful. In dim rooms, it reads as a moody dark teal-gray. Under warm light, the green emerges. Under cool light, the blue dominates. A chameleon color that rewards attention.
Elf in Your Room
In bright rooms, a definite sage. In dim rooms, a warm gray-green.
LRV and Brightness
Oval Room Blue has an LRV of 15, while Elf has an LRV of 25. That means Elf reflects more light. If you switch from Oval Room Blue to Elf, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Oval Room Blue
Farrow & Ball recommends Oval Room Blue for: living room, dining room, bedroom, accent wall, office. With an LRV of 15, 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.
Elf is recommended for: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, exterior, living room. 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.
Oval Room Blue in Other Brands
Looking for Oval Room Blue equivalents in other brands besides PPG? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest PPG match for Oval Room Blue (No.85) is Elf (PPG1131-5) with a Delta E of 5, which rates as a "good match" match. Elf is the closest PPG 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. Oval Room Blue is a Farrow & Ball color with rich blue-green undertones and an LRV of 15. Elf is a PPG color with medium sage undertones and an LRV of 25. With a Delta E of 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, 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 PPG equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in PPG. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing PPG 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.