Neutral Ground → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground (SW 7568), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Neutral Ground
If you love Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground but need a Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Neutral Ground (SW 7568) is a light beige with warm beige undertones. A light, warm beige with balanced undertones. Less yellow than creams, less gray than greiges. A true warm neutral. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 70) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Neutral Ground and every Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball option is Tallow (No.203) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Tallow is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 72. Similar character with F&B's chalky complexity, though some difference is visible. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Neutral Ground
Tallow is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 72. Similar character with F&B's chalky complexity, though some difference is visible.
| Neutral Ground | Tallow | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 70 | 72 |
| Hex | #DFD6C7 | #E0DBD0 |
| Undertone | Warm Beige | Warm Tallow Cream |
| Family | Beige | Cream |
Undertone Comparison
Neutral Ground has warm beige undertones. A light, warm beige with balanced undertones. Less yellow than creams, less gray than greiges. A true warm neutral.
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.
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. Neutral Ground's warm beige quality may read differently than Tallow's warm tallow cream 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
Neutral Ground in Your Room
Reads as a pleasant warm beige in all conditions. Not dramatically warm, just gently beige. Versatile and crowd-pleasing.
Tallow in Your Room
Warm and organic. In bright rooms, a warm off-white with visible cream. In dim rooms, cozy and inviting.
LRV and Brightness
Neutral Ground has an LRV of 70, while Tallow has an LRV of 72. 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 Neutral Ground
Sherwin Williams recommends Neutral Ground for: whole house, living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room. With an LRV of 70, 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.
Tallow is recommended for: living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room, kitchen. 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.
Neutral Ground in Other Brands
Looking for Neutral Ground equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Neutral Ground (SW 7568) is Tallow (No.203) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Tallow is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 72. Similar character with F&B's chalky complexity, though some difference is visible. 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. Neutral Ground is a Sherwin Williams color with warm beige undertones and an LRV of 70. Tallow is a Farrow & Ball color with warm tallow cream undertones and an LRV of 72. With a Delta E of 3.8, 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 3.8, 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 Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball 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.