Basalt Powder → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Sherwin Williams Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Basalt Powder
If you love Sherwin Williams Basalt Powder but need a Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2) is a medium blue with soft blue undertones. A soft, powder-light blue-gray. Named for the volcanic rock ground to dust. More blue than Tidal Salt, lighter than Stardew. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 58) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Basalt Powder and every Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball option is Vert De Terre (No.234) with a Delta E of 3.5, which is a "good match" level match. Vert De Terre is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 58. Similar character with F&B's chalky complexity, though some difference is visible. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Basalt Powder
Vert De Terre is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 58. Similar character with F&B's chalky complexity, though some difference is visible.
| Basalt Powder | Vert De Terre | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 58 | 58 |
| Hex | #C7D1D2 | #C8D2C6 |
| Undertone | Soft Blue | Soft French Green |
| Family | Blue | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Basalt Powder has soft blue undertones. A soft, powder-light blue-gray. Named for the volcanic rock ground to dust. More blue than Tidal Salt, lighter than Stardew.
Vert De Terre has soft french green undertones. A soft, sophisticated green named for the French 'green of the earth.' Lighter and more refined than Mizzle, with the subtle, chalky quality that defines F&B's palette.
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. Basalt Powder's soft blue quality may read differently than Vert De Terre's soft french green 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
Basalt Powder in Your Room
The blue is soft and powdery. In bright rooms, a gentle blue. In dim rooms, a cool, calming gray.
Vert De Terre in Your Room
The French green is soft and cultivated. In bright rooms, a delicate sage tint. In dim rooms, a warm gray with green whispers. Understated elegance.
LRV and Brightness
Basalt Powder has an LRV of 58, while Vert De Terre has an LRV of 58. 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 Basalt Powder
Sherwin Williams recommends Basalt Powder for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway, laundry room. With an LRV of 58, this is a medium 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.
Vert De Terre is recommended for: bedroom, bathroom, living room, nursery, kitchen. 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.
Basalt Powder in Other Brands
Looking for Basalt Powder equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2) is Vert De Terre (No.234) with a Delta E of 3.5, which rates as a "good match" match. Vert De Terre is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 58. Similar character with F&B's chalky complexity, though some difference is visible. 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. Basalt Powder is a Sherwin Williams color with soft blue undertones and an LRV of 58. Vert De Terre is a Farrow & Ball color with soft french green undertones and an LRV of 58. With a Delta E of 3.5, 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 3.5, 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 Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball 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.