Pale Powder → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Farrow & Ball Pale Powder (No.204), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Pale Powder
If you love Farrow & Ball Pale Powder 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.
Pale Powder (No.204) is a light blue with pale blue-gray undertones. An ultra-light, powdery blue-gray. One of F&B's most popular bathroom colors. So light it barely registers as blue, yet it adds a cool, fresh quality that pure white cannot. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 68) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pale Powder 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 good news: there is a strong Behr match for Pale Powder. Porch Swing (PPU12-15) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Porch Swing is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
Behr Matches for Pale Powder
Porch Swing is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
| Pale Powder | Porch Swing | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 68 | 68 |
| Hex | #D5DDDB | #D2D9DA |
| Undertone | Pale Blue-Gray | Very Light Blue |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
Undertone Comparison
Pale Powder has pale blue-gray undertones. An ultra-light, powdery blue-gray. One of F&B's most popular bathroom colors. So light it barely registers as blue, yet it adds a cool, fresh quality that pure white cannot.
Porch Swing has very light blue undertones. An ultra-light, airy blue-gray. The color of a porch ceiling on a clear day. Barely there color that makes rooms feel open and fresh.
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. Pale Powder's pale blue-gray quality may read differently than Porch Swing's very light blue 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
Pale Powder in Your Room
The blue is barely there. In most rooms, reads as a cool, fresh off-white. In bright natural light, the blue whisper shows. Always calming.
Porch Swing in Your Room
The blue is barely perceptible. In most rooms, reads as a cool, bright off-white. In cool north light, the blue tint becomes slightly more visible. A subtle, refreshing choice.
LRV and Brightness
Pale Powder has an LRV of 68, while Porch Swing has an LRV of 68. 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 Pale Powder
Farrow & Ball recommends Pale Powder for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway, laundry room. With an LRV of 68, this is a light color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Porch Swing is recommended for: porch ceiling, bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway. 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.
Pale Powder in Other Brands
Looking for Pale Powder equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Pale Powder (No.204) is Porch Swing (PPU12-15) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Porch Swing 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. Pale Powder is a Farrow & Ball color with pale blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 68. Porch Swing is a Behr color with very light blue undertones and an LRV of 68. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. 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, 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.