Olympus White → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams Olympus White (SW 6253), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Olympus White
If you love Sherwin Williams Olympus White 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.
Olympus White (SW 6253) is a light blue with very light blue-gray undertones. An ultra-light blue-gray. Barely there color that adds a cool, fresh quality. Named for the mountain of the gods. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 68) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Olympus White 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 Olympus White. Gentle Wave (VR091D) comes in with a Delta E of 2.5, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Gentle Wave is the closest Valspar option at LRV 65. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Olympus White
Gentle Wave is the closest Valspar option at LRV 65. Very close match.
| Olympus White | Gentle Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 68 | 65 |
| Hex | #D4DADC | #CED7D6 |
| Undertone | Very Light Blue-Gray | Soft Blue-Gray |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
Undertone Comparison
Olympus White has very light blue-gray undertones. An ultra-light blue-gray. Barely there color that adds a cool, fresh quality. Named for the mountain of the gods.
Gentle Wave has soft blue-gray undertones. A soft, airy blue-gray with a coastal quality. Like looking at the ocean on a calm day. Lighter and bluer than Beach House, less green than Sea Salt. A popular bathroom and bedroom color.
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
Olympus White in Your Room
The blue is whisper-soft. In most rooms reads as a cool off-white. In north light, the blue shows slightly.
Gentle Wave in Your Room
The blue is gentle and always present. In cool north-facing rooms, it reads as a definite blue-gray. In warm south-facing rooms, it softens into a cool neutral. Always calming.
LRV and Brightness
Olympus White has an LRV of 68, while Gentle Wave has an LRV of 65. 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 Olympus White
Sherwin Williams recommends Olympus White for: bathroom, bedroom, hallway, nursery, whole house. With an LRV of 68, 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.
Gentle Wave is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, laundry room, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Gentle Wave in the same rooms you planned for Olympus White.
Olympus White in Other Brands
Looking for Olympus White equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Olympus White (SW 6253) is Gentle Wave (VR091D) with a Delta E of 2.5, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Gentle Wave is the closest Valspar option at LRV 65. 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. Olympus White is a Sherwin Williams color with very light blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 68. Gentle Wave is a Valspar color with soft blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 65. With a Delta E of 2.5, 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 2.5, 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.