Exhibit 23



                    Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Lilly Industries,  Inc. of our report dated January 15, 1999, included in the
1998 Annual Report to Shareholders of Lilly Industries, Inc.

Our audits also included the financial  statement  schedule of Lilly Industries,
Inc. listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the  responsibility of the Company's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered
in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,  presents fairly
in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We further consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration  Statements
(Form S-8 Nos.  2-59159,  2-76317,  33-52954,  33-52956  pertaining to the Lilly
Employees'  Stock Purchase Plan, the Lilly  Industries,  Inc. Stock Option Plan,
the Lilly  Industries,  Inc.  1991  Director  Stock Option  Plan,  and the Lilly
Industries,  Inc. Employee 401(k) Savings Plan,  respectively,  and 33-52958 and
333-32205  pertaining to the Lilly  Industries,  Inc. 1992 Stock Option plan) of
our report dated January 15, 1999,  with respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements  incorporated  herein by  reference,  and our report  included in the
preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule included in
this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Lilly Industries, Inc.




                                                  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana
February 26, 1999