Au Lait reads as warm and grounded — strong in kitchens, family rooms, and any space where warmth is the dominant mood you're after. At LRV 80 it reflects plenty of light, which makes it well-suited for north-facing rooms and smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Skip it in rooms that already run warm or get strong afternoon sun, where it can tip into an overpowering glow.
Ref. #EBE7DC · CB9
Au Lait
80%LRV Value
Au Lait Technical Profile
What color is Farrow & Ball Au Lait (CB9)? It's a light warm orange — hex #EBE7DC, LRV 80. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Au Lait is Dunn-Edwards Whisper Gray — a near-identical match on the wall, with Hirshfield's Elk Skin and Benjamin Moore Dove Wing also close. With a Light Reflectance Value of 80, Au Lait reflects a generous amount of light, making it well-suited for north-facing rooms or smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Pair it with warm whites like White Dove, white oak floors, and unlacquered brass or copper hardware. Terracotta tile or deep green plants complete an earthy warm palette. At mid saturation, this color sits at a flexible mid-point — bold enough to anchor a room without dominating, and pairs cleanly with both crisp and creamy whites. Oranges glow under 2700K warm bulbs, deepening into rich amber. Under 4000K cool light they can lose warmth and shift toward beige — particularly true for muted or dusty oranges. At mid saturation the lighting shift is moderate but real — sample under both warm-bulb evening light and cool-daylight morning light before committing.
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Colors Similar to Au Lait
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Au Lait
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Au Lait
#EBE7DC
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#A4AD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Au Lait
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Au Lait Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Farrow & Ball Colors
Other Farrow & Ball colors close to Au Lait.
More orange colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the orange family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Au Lait — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Au Lait from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Au Lait are Whisper Gray by Dunn-Edwards (a near-identical match), Elk Skin by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Dove Wing by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Au Lait's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Au Lait?
Au Lait has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 80.0, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a light, reflective color that bounces plenty of light back into a room — well-suited to north-facing spaces, hallways, and smaller rooms that need to feel brighter. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Au Lait
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Au Lait depends on the room. Here's how to choose.