City Loft → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams City Loft (SW 7631), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for City Loft
If you love Sherwin Williams City Loft 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.
City Loft (SW 7631) is a light greige with light warm greige undertones. A very light greige with warm undertones. Barely there color. Lighter than Agreeable Gray, warmer than a white. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 70) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between City Loft 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 Soft Sand Dollar (VR085F) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Soft Sand Dollar is the closest Valspar option at LRV 67. 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 City Loft
Soft Sand Dollar is the closest Valspar option at LRV 67. Similar character, though some difference is visible in direct comparison.
| City Loft | Soft Sand Dollar | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 70 | 67 |
| Hex | #DED8CE | #D8D2C6 |
| Undertone | Light Warm Greige | Warm Sandy Cream |
| Family | Greige | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
City Loft has light warm greige undertones. A very light greige with warm undertones. Barely there color. Lighter than Agreeable Gray, warmer than a white.
Soft Sand Dollar has warm sandy cream undertones. A warm, sandy cream. Lighter than Rattan, warmer than Filtered Shade. Like a pale sand dollar bleached by the sun.
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
City Loft in Your Room
Reads as a warm off-white with a whisper of greige in most conditions. Versatile and universally flattering.
Soft Sand Dollar in Your Room
Warm and sandy. A light, inviting warm neutral.
LRV and Brightness
City Loft has an LRV of 70, while Soft Sand Dollar has an LRV of 67. 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 City Loft
Sherwin Williams recommends City Loft for: whole house, bedroom, hallway, living room, bathroom. With an LRV of 70, this is a light 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.
Soft Sand Dollar is recommended for: whole house, living room, bedroom, hallway, bathroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Soft Sand Dollar in the same rooms you planned for City Loft.
City Loft in Other Brands
Looking for City Loft equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for City Loft (SW 7631) is Soft Sand Dollar (VR085F) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Soft Sand Dollar is the closest Valspar option at LRV 67. 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. City Loft is a Sherwin Williams color with light warm greige undertones and an LRV of 70. Soft Sand Dollar is a Valspar color with warm sandy cream undertones and an LRV of 67. With a Delta E of 4, 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 4, 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.