Merlot
With a focus on genuinely dark tones, Merlot (2704) is a standout Purple in our database. It was selected for this featured gallery for its ability to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. See it applied across 3 real world scenarios and find professional pairing data below.
Hex
#51323B
LRV
4.36
Merlot's Color Strip
Merlot is the seventh shade on this 7-color strip, the deepest shade in this coordinated family. As part of strip 276, these colors are curated to work together — helpful when you're deciding how light or deep to go.
Merlot in Real Rooms
Merlot has a low LRV of 4.36 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color. It's neutral in temperature and , making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Purple family, the photos below show it applied in a misc and front door.
1 Misc Photo
Note how Merlot is used as a "ceiling color" in some of these rooms. This "fifth wall" application is a bold designer move that can make a room feel infinitely more cozy and architecturally unique.
Wall paint in Merlot delivers rich, wine-inspired depth and elegance.
2 Front Door Photos
There's a psychological sense of "arrival" when you step up to a door painted in Merlot. It feels solid, grounded, and permanent, giving both residents and guests a sense of stability as they cross the threshold.
A front door painted Merlot makes a bold, sophisticated statement.
Front entry door in Merlot commands attention with deep, luxurious color.
Coordinating Colors
Egret White reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 4), opening up a space where Merlot encloses it.
At LRV 29 vs 4, Cornwall Slate is decisively the brighter choice.
Trim Color
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 7 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 4 and 3, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Complementary Colors
At LRV 73 vs 4, Mountain Air is decisively the brighter choice.
Billiard Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Lighter Colors
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 7 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Berry Bush reads slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Grandeur Plum reads slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.