Hardwick White → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball Hardwick White (No.5), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Hardwick White
If you love Farrow & Ball Hardwick White but need a Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Hardwick White (No.5) is a medium greige with warm stone-greige undertones. A warm greige with an organic, stone-like quality. More depth than Ammonite, warmer than Cornforth White. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 49) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Hardwick White and every Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams option is Anew Gray (SW 7030) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Anew Gray is a close match. Both are warm medium greiges. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Hardwick White
Anew Gray is a close match. Both are warm medium greiges.
| Hardwick White | Anew Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 49 | 47 |
| Hex | #C5BFB4 | #BEB6AC |
| Undertone | Warm Stone-Greige | Warm Greige |
| Family | Greige | Greige |
Undertone Comparison
Hardwick White has warm stone-greige undertones. A warm greige with an organic, stone-like quality. More depth than Ammonite, warmer than Cornforth White.
Anew Gray has warm greige undertones. A warm medium greige that's slightly deeper than Agreeable Gray. Rich and grounding without being dark.
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
Hardwick White in Your Room
Reads as a warm, natural mid-tone neutral. The stone quality makes it feel organic and timeless.
Anew Gray in Your Room
The warmth is consistent. Reads as a substantial warm neutral in all rooms. A grown-up version of Agreeable Gray.
LRV and Brightness
Hardwick White has an LRV of 49, while Anew Gray has an LRV of 47. 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 Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball recommends Hardwick White for: living room, bedroom, kitchen, hallway, dining room. With an LRV of 49, 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.
Anew Gray is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, office, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Anew Gray in the same rooms you planned for Hardwick White.
Hardwick White in Other Brands
Looking for Hardwick White equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Hardwick White (No.5) is Anew Gray (SW 7030) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Anew Gray is a close match. Both are warm medium greiges. 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. Hardwick White is a Farrow & Ball color with warm stone-greige undertones and an LRV of 49. Anew Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with warm greige undertones and an LRV of 47. 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 Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams 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.