Cord vs Somber
Where Cord belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, Somber is a PPG color. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. Cord (LRV 55) reflects noticeably more light than Somber (LRV 46), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 6.6 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Cord vs Somber Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cord on one side and Somber 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.
More Cord comparisons
See how Cord stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 55, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Cord reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cord reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 55), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Cord reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 55 vs 55), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 12-point LRV gap (55 vs 44) makes Cord the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 55), opening up a space where Cord encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (66 vs 55) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 55, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 55, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (55 vs 45) makes Cord the marginally brighter of the two.
Cord reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.