Pointing → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Farrow & Ball Pointing (No.2003), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Pointing
If you love Farrow & Ball Pointing 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.
Pointing (No.2003) is a very light white with warm yellow-cream undertones. A warm, creamy white with gentle yellow undertones. Slightly warmer than Wimborne White. Named for the lime mortar used in traditional brickwork. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 87) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pointing 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 Pointing. Polar Bear (PPU18-07-2) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Polar Bear is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
Behr Matches for Pointing
Polar Bear is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
| Pointing | Polar Bear | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 87 | 87 |
| Hex | #F0ECE1 | #F1EFE8 |
| Undertone | Warm Yellow-Cream | Warm Bright White |
| Family | White | White |
Undertone Comparison
Pointing has warm yellow-cream undertones. A warm, creamy white with gentle yellow undertones. Slightly warmer than Wimborne White. Named for the lime mortar used in traditional brickwork.
Polar Bear has warm bright white undertones. A bright white with the slightest warm cream undertone. Behr's most popular warm bright white. Slightly warmer than Dove, slightly brighter than Painter's White.
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. Pointing's warm yellow-cream quality may read differently than Polar Bear's warm bright white 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
Pointing in Your Room
The yellow warmth is soft and pleasant in all lighting. In south-facing rooms, it glows gently. In north-facing rooms, it reads as a warm, inviting off-white.
Polar Bear in Your Room
Clean and bright with barely-there warmth. In most rooms, reads as a bright white. The cream is only visible next to a true cool white.
LRV and Brightness
Pointing has an LRV of 87, while Polar Bear has an LRV of 87. 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 Pointing
Farrow & Ball recommends Pointing for: whole house, trim, living room, bedroom, kitchen. With an LRV of 87, this is a very light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
Polar Bear is recommended for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. 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.
Pointing in Other Brands
Looking for Pointing equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Pointing (No.2003) is Polar Bear (PPU18-07-2) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Polar Bear 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. Pointing is a Farrow & Ball color with warm yellow-cream undertones and an LRV of 87. Polar Bear is a Behr color with warm bright white undertones and an LRV of 87. 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.