Water Mark → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Behr Water Mark (PPU12-14), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Water Mark
If you love Behr Water Mark 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 Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Water Mark (PPU12-14) is a light blue with soft cool blue undertones. A very light blue-gray. Cool and airy. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 62) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Water Mark 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 Reflection (SW 7661) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Reflection is close. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Water Mark
Reflection is close.
| Water Mark | Reflection | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 62 | 53 |
| Hex | #CDD3D3 | #C4CDCF |
| Undertone | Soft Cool Blue | Cool Blue-Gray |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
Undertone Comparison
Water Mark has soft cool blue undertones. A very light blue-gray. Cool and airy.
Reflection has cool blue-gray undertones. A soft blue-gray with a calm, serene quality. More blue than Passive, less saturated than Silvermist.
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
Water Mark in Your Room
The blue is soft and barely there. Reads as a cool off-white.
Reflection in Your Room
The blue is gentle. In bright rooms, distinctly blue-gray. In dim rooms, a cool neutral gray.
LRV and Brightness
Water Mark has an LRV of 62, while Reflection has an LRV of 53. That means Water Mark reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Water Mark will make the space feel brighter and more open than Reflection. If you are switching to the Sherwin Williams option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Water Mark
Behr recommends Water Mark for: bathroom, bedroom, hallway, nursery. With an LRV of 62, this is a light color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Reflection is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway, office. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Reflection in the same rooms you planned for Water Mark.
Water Mark in Other Brands
Looking for Water Mark equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Water Mark (PPU12-14) is Reflection (SW 7661) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Reflection is close. 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. Water Mark is a Behr color with soft cool blue undertones and an LRV of 62. Reflection is a Sherwin Williams color with cool blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 53. 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.