Austere Gray → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams Austere Gray (SW 6184), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Austere Gray
If you love Sherwin Williams Austere Gray 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 Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Austere Gray (SW 6184) is a medium green with cool green-gray undertones. A cool green-gray. Lighter than Comfort Gray, more green than Silverpointe. Austere in the best sense: restrained and refined. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 49) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Austere Gray 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 good news: there is a strong Valspar match for Austere Gray. Seine (VR093E) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Seine is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Austere Gray
Seine is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match.
| Austere Gray | Seine | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 49 | 48 |
| Hex | #C1C5BD | #BEC6BB |
| Undertone | Cool Green-Gray | River Green |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Austere Gray has cool green-gray undertones. A cool green-gray. Lighter than Comfort Gray, more green than Silverpointe. Austere in the best sense: restrained and refined.
Seine has river green undertones. A soft green named for the Parisian river. Between Sparkling Sage and Mint Julep. Refined and calming, with French sophistication.
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
Austere Gray in Your Room
The green is soft and restrained. In bright rooms, a cool green-gray. In dim rooms, a balanced neutral.
Seine in Your Room
The green is soft and cultivated. In bright rooms, a gentle sage. In dim rooms, a warm green-gray.
LRV and Brightness
Austere Gray has an LRV of 49, while Seine has an LRV of 48. 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 Austere Gray
Sherwin Williams recommends Austere Gray for: bathroom, bedroom, living room, hallway, kitchen. With an LRV of 49, this is a medium color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Seine is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room, nursery. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Seine in the same rooms you planned for Austere Gray.
Austere Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Austere Gray equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Austere Gray (SW 6184) is Seine (VR093E) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Seine is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match. 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. Austere Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with cool green-gray undertones and an LRV of 49. Seine is a Valspar color with river green undertones and an LRV of 48. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
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.