Cavern Clay → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams Cavern Clay (SW 7701), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Cavern Clay
If you love Sherwin Williams Cavern Clay 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.
Cavern Clay (SW 7701) is a dark brown with warm terracotta undertones. SW's 2019 Color of the Year. A warm, earthy terracotta inspired by desert caves. Bold and warm, with the natural beauty of sun-baked clay. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 15) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Cavern Clay 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.
Honestly, Valspar does not have a perfect equivalent for Cavern Clay. The closest option is Autumn Fog (VR083F) with a Delta E of 5.8, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Autumn Fog has similar earthy warmth but is lighter and more beige. Cavern Clay's terracotta intensity is distinctive. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Valspar store.
Valspar Matches for Cavern Clay
Autumn Fog has similar earthy warmth but is lighter and more beige. Cavern Clay's terracotta intensity is distinctive.
| Cavern Clay | Autumn Fog | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 15 | 53 |
| Hex | #9C7157 | #C9C1B3 |
| Undertone | Warm Terracotta | Warm Golden Beige |
| Family | Brown | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
Cavern Clay has warm terracotta undertones. SW's 2019 Color of the Year. A warm, earthy terracotta inspired by desert caves. Bold and warm, with the natural beauty of sun-baked clay.
Autumn Fog has warm golden beige undertones. A warm, golden beige with autumnal undertones. Rich and earthy without being dark. The golden quality gives rooms a warm, inviting glow that feels particularly beautiful in fall and winter months.
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. Cavern Clay's warm terracotta quality may read differently than Autumn Fog's warm golden beige 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
Cavern Clay in Your Room
In bright light, the terracotta glows with warmth. In dim rooms, it reads as a rich, warm brown. Under warm light, the orange-red comes alive.
Autumn Fog in Your Room
The golden warmth shines in all lighting. In south-facing rooms, it glows beautifully. In north-facing rooms, the warmth is a welcome counterbalance to cool light. A cozy, year-round neutral.
LRV and Brightness
Cavern Clay has an LRV of 15, while Autumn Fog has an LRV of 53. That means Autumn Fog reflects more light. If you switch from Cavern Clay to Autumn Fog, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Cavern Clay
Sherwin Williams recommends Cavern Clay for: accent wall, dining room, powder room, bedroom, exterior. With an LRV of 15, 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.
Autumn Fog is recommended for: living room, dining room, bedroom, hallway, study. 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.
Cavern Clay in Other Brands
Looking for Cavern Clay equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Cavern Clay (SW 7701) is Autumn Fog (VR083F) with a Delta E of 5.8, which rates as a "approximate" match. Autumn Fog has similar earthy warmth but is lighter and more beige. Cavern Clay's terracotta intensity is distinctive. 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. Cavern Clay is a Sherwin Williams color with warm terracotta undertones and an LRV of 15. Autumn Fog is a Valspar color with warm golden beige undertones and an LRV of 53. With a Delta E of 5.8, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 5.8, 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 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.