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Brands · answered by Fini

Is there a cheaper alternative to Paint & Paper Library Stone II?

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Quick answer

Dulux Gooseberry Fool 6 is the closest cheaper match at ΔE 0.5 — practically indistinguishable from Stone II to the naked eye. Get it mixed in a quality finish and you'll save a fair bit without losing the look.

Yes, and the match is genuinely excellent. Dulux Gooseberry Fool 6 comes in at ΔE 0.5 from Stone II, with an LRV of 81.4. A ΔE under 1 is imperceptible to the human eye — side by side on the same wall, you'd not be able to tell them apart. That makes it the obvious swap if your only reason for moving away from Paint & Paper Library is cost.

Stone II is a soft, off-white stone with a gentle warmth — the kind of shade that reads light without going stark. Gooseberry Fool carries that same character beautifully. Mix it in Dulux Heritage finishes if you want a flatter, more refined matt; the standard Dulux trade emulsions are perfectly good too and a chunk cheaper per litre.

If Dulux isn't your thing, you've got two more honest options. Crown Collector's White sits at ΔE 1.7 (LRV 86.9) — still very close, but it's notably brighter and cleaner, so it'll bounce a touch more light and lose a sliver of that stony warmth. COAT Tuesday's Child is ΔE 2.2 (LRV 74.9) — within the "very close" band, but it's a shade deeper and earthier, which some people actually prefer for a cosier feel.

The one thing worth flagging: cheaper paint isn't always cheaper to use. Paint & Paper Library's pigment load and opacity are strong, so you may get away with fewer coats. A bargain emulsion that needs three coats instead of two can wipe out the saving. Dulux's trade lines hold up well here, so Gooseberry Fool is a safe bet on coverage as well as colour.

My advice: buy a tester of Gooseberry Fool, paint two coats on a bit of lining paper, and view it next to your Stone II reference in daylight and lamplight. At ΔE 0.5 you'll be reaching for the receipt to remind yourself which is which — sorted.

Colours from the answer

LRV 81.6
Paint & Paper Library
Stone II
LRV 81.4
Dulux
Gooseberry Fool 6
LRV 86.9
Crown
Collector's White
LRV 74.9
COAT
Tuesday's Child

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