Tallow → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball Tallow (No.203), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Tallow
If you love Farrow & Ball Tallow but need a Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Tallow (No.203) is a light cream with warm tallow cream undertones. A warm cream named for the rendered animal fat used in traditional candles. Rich and organic, with the warm, natural glow of candlelight. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 72) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Tallow and every Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams option is Alabaster Alt (SW 9109) with a Delta E of 3.4, which is a "good match" level match. Natural Linen is similar. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Tallow
Natural Linen is similar.
| Tallow | Alabaster Alt | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 72 | 73 |
| Hex | #E0DBD0 | #DED8CD |
| Undertone | Warm Tallow Cream | Warm Linen |
| Family | Cream | Off-White |
Undertone Comparison
Tallow has warm tallow cream undertones. A warm cream named for the rendered animal fat used in traditional candles. Rich and organic, with the warm, natural glow of candlelight.
Alabaster Alt has warm linen undertones. A warm, linen-toned off-white. More body than Alabaster, less depth than Agreeable Gray. The warm, natural tone of unbleached linen fabric.
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. Tallow's warm tallow cream quality may read differently than Alabaster Alt's warm linen 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
Tallow in Your Room
Warm and organic. In bright rooms, a warm off-white with visible cream. In dim rooms, cozy and inviting.
Alabaster Alt in Your Room
Warm and natural. Reads as a warm off-white with visible beige warmth. Cozy and organic.
LRV and Brightness
Tallow has an LRV of 72, while Alabaster Alt has an LRV of 73. 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 Tallow
Farrow & Ball recommends Tallow for: living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room, kitchen. With an LRV of 72, 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.
Alabaster Alt is recommended for: whole house, bedroom, living room, hallway, 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.
Tallow in Other Brands
Looking for Tallow equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Tallow (No.203) is Alabaster Alt (SW 9109) with a Delta E of 3.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Natural Linen is similar. 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. Tallow is a Farrow & Ball color with warm tallow cream undertones and an LRV of 72. Alabaster Alt is a Sherwin Williams color with warm linen undertones and an LRV of 73. With a Delta E of 3.4, 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 3.4, 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 Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams 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.