Calico vs Merlot
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Calico reads as blue-green, while Merlot reads as pink — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Calico (LRV 35) reflects noticeably more light than Merlot (LRV 4), a difference of 30 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Calico runs cool while Merlot is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 47.9, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Calico vs Merlot in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Calico and Merlot in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Color Details
Calico vs Merlot Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Calico on one side and Merlot on the other.
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.