Merino Wool vs Bancha

Merino WoolBehrvsBanchaFarrow & BallΔE 36.9Very different colors

Merino Wool (Behr) and Bancha (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. The 41-point LRV gap — 55 for Merino Wool vs 13 for Bancha — means Merino Wool will open up a space more effectively. Where Merino Wool leans red, Bancha reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 36.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Merino Wool vs Bancha in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. Seeing Merino Wool and Bancha in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Merino Wool returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Merino WoolBehr HDC-NT-13 bathroom review

@derikspicknall

BanchaBancha bathroom color review

@yorkshirefabricshop

Color Details

Merino Wool
Behr · HDC-NT-13
Hex#cfc1ae
LRV54.5
BrandBehr
NumberHDC-NT-13
UndertoneRed
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Bancha
Farrow & Ball · 298
Hex#686a47
LRV13.3
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number298
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessDark

Merino Wool vs Bancha Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Merino Wool on one side and Bancha on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More Merino Wool comparisons

See how Merino Wool stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Merino Wool
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Merino Wool
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Merino Wool
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Merino Wool
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Merino Wool
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Merino Wool reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Merino Wool
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Merino Wool
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Accessible Beige
Merino Wool
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Merino Wool
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

French Gray
Merino Wool
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Merino Wool reads slightly lighter

Naval
Merino Wool
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Merino Wool
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Hardwick White
Merino Wool
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Merino Wool reads slightly lighter

Pure White
Merino Wool
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Merino Wool
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Merino Wool
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Shoji White
Merino Wool
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White reads noticeably lighter

Snowbound
Merino Wool
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Merino Wool
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Skimming Stone
Merino Wool
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone reads noticeably lighter

Dix Blue
Merino Wool
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Merino Wool reads noticeably lighter

Calamine
Merino Wool
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reads noticeably lighter

Treron
Merino Wool
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Merino Wool
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
Merino Wool
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Merino Wool reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Merino Wool
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Merino Wool reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Merino Wool
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Merino Wool
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Merino Wool is the lighter choice

Guilford Green
Merino Wool
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Just Walnut
Merino Wool
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut reads noticeably lighter

Merino Wool vs Bancha Paint Color Comparison