Felted Wool → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Sherwin Williams Felted Wool (SW 9171), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Felted Wool
If you love Sherwin Williams Felted Wool but need a Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Felted Wool (SW 9171) is a medium greige with warm wool greige undertones. A warm greige with the textural quality of felted wool. At medium depth, it adds warmth and substance. Named for the fabric, it carries that same handmade, organic quality. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 44) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Felted Wool and every Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore option is Smoke Embers (1466) with a Delta E of 3.4, which is a "good match" level match. Smoke Embers is the closest BM match. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Felted Wool
Smoke Embers is the closest BM match.
| Felted Wool | Smoke Embers | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 44 | 37.54 |
| Hex | #BCB7AE | #B1ACA4 |
| Undertone | Warm Wool Greige | Warm Gray-Beige |
| Family | Greige | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Felted Wool has warm wool greige undertones. A warm greige with the textural quality of felted wool. At medium depth, it adds warmth and substance. Named for the fabric, it carries that same handmade, organic quality.
Smoke Embers has warm gray-beige undertones. A medium warm gray with beige undertones. Darker and more substantial than Edgecomb Gray. A sophisticated mid-tone neutral.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Felted Wool in Your Room
The warmth is consistent and organic. In bright rooms, the greige reads as warm and natural. In dim rooms, cozy and inviting.
Smoke Embers in Your Room
Reads as a warm, grounding medium gray in most conditions. The beige warmth prevents it from feeling cold. Good depth for accent walls or whole rooms with bright trim.
LRV and Brightness
Felted Wool has an LRV of 44, while Smoke Embers has an LRV of 37.54. That means Felted Wool reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Felted Wool will make the space feel brighter and more open than Smoke Embers. If you are switching to the Benjamin Moore option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Felted Wool
Sherwin Williams recommends Felted Wool for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, office. With an LRV of 44, this is a medium color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Smoke Embers is recommended for: living room, bedroom, office, dining room, accent wall. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Smoke Embers in the same rooms you planned for Felted Wool.
Felted Wool in Other Brands
Looking for Felted Wool equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Felted Wool (SW 9171) is Smoke Embers (1466) with a Delta E of 3.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Smoke Embers is the closest BM 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. Felted Wool is a Sherwin Williams color with warm wool greige undertones and an LRV of 44. Smoke Embers is a Benjamin Moore color with warm gray-beige undertones and an LRV of 37.54. 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 Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore 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.