Caliente → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Benjamin Moore Caliente (AF-290), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Caliente
If you love Benjamin Moore Caliente but need a Valspar 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 Valspar, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Caliente (AF-290) is a dark red with bold warm red undertones. BM's 2018 Color of the Year. A bold, confident red with warm undertones. Brighter and more fiery than Heritage Red. Makes a dramatic statement on front doors, accent walls, and exteriors. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 11.45) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Caliente and every Valspar 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 Valspar option is Woodsmoke (VR078C) with a Delta E of 3.6, which is a "good match" level match. Woodsmoke is the closest Valspar option at LRV 12. Similar character, though some difference is visible in direct comparison. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Valspar Matches for Caliente
Woodsmoke is the closest Valspar option at LRV 12. Similar character, though some difference is visible in direct comparison.
| Caliente | Woodsmoke | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 11.45 | 12 |
| Hex | #973734 | #716F6B |
| Undertone | Bold Warm Red | Warm Smoky Charcoal |
| Family | Red | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Caliente has bold warm red undertones. BM's 2018 Color of the Year. A bold, confident red with warm undertones. Brighter and more fiery than Heritage Red. Makes a dramatic statement on front doors, accent walls, and exteriors.
Woodsmoke has warm smoky charcoal undertones. A warm, smoky charcoal. The color of wood smoke. Darker than Tempered Gray, with a warm, organic quality.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Caliente's bold warm red quality may read differently than Woodsmoke's warm smoky charcoal character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Caliente in Your Room
The red is vibrant and commanding. In bright light, it practically glows. In dim rooms, it deepens into a rich, warm burgundy. A color that demands attention and rewards confidence.
Woodsmoke in Your Room
Warm and smoky. In bright rooms, the warm brown-charcoal shows. In dim rooms, approaches a warm near-black.
LRV and Brightness
Caliente has an LRV of 11.45, while Woodsmoke has an LRV of 12. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Caliente
Benjamin Moore recommends Caliente for: front door, accent wall, exterior, dining room, powder room. With an LRV of 11.45, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Woodsmoke is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, front door, cabinets, office. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Caliente in Other Brands
Looking for Caliente equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Caliente (AF-290) is Woodsmoke (VR078C) with a Delta E of 3.6, which rates as a "good match" match. Woodsmoke is the closest Valspar option at LRV 12. Similar character, though some difference is visible in direct comparison. 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. Caliente is a Benjamin Moore color with bold warm red undertones and an LRV of 11.45. Woodsmoke is a Valspar color with warm smoky charcoal undertones and an LRV of 12. With a Delta E of 3.6, 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 3.6, 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 Valspar equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Valspar. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Valspar 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.