Basalt Powder → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Basalt Powder
If you love Sherwin Williams Basalt Powder 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.
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 Valspar 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 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 Basalt Powder. Beach House (VR091C) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Beach House is the closest Valspar option at LRV 58. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Basalt Powder
Beach House is the closest Valspar option at LRV 58. Very close match.
| Basalt Powder | Beach House | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 58 | 58 |
| Hex | #C7D1D2 | #C6D2D0 |
| Undertone | Soft Blue | Soft Blue-Green |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
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.
Beach House has soft blue-green undertones. A soft, coastal blue-green with gray undertones. Captures the feeling of a weathered seaside cottage. Calming and serene without being dark or bold. One of Valspar's most popular bathroom colors.
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 Beach House's soft blue-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.
Beach House in Your Room
Shifts between blue and green depending on light, much like the ocean it evokes. In cool north light, the blue dominates. In warm south light, the green comes forward. Always calming and spa-like.
LRV and Brightness
Basalt Powder has an LRV of 58, while Beach House 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.
Beach House is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, laundry room, sunroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Beach House in the same rooms you planned for Basalt Powder.
Basalt Powder in Other Brands
Looking for Basalt Powder equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2) is Beach House (VR091C) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Beach House is the closest Valspar option at LRV 58. 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. Basalt Powder is a Sherwin Williams color with soft blue undertones and an LRV of 58. Beach House is a Valspar color with soft blue-green undertones and an LRV of 58. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. 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, 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.