Peppercorn → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (SW 7674), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Peppercorn
If you love Sherwin Williams Peppercorn 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.
Peppercorn (SW 7674) is a dark gray with warm dark charcoal undertones. A warm, rich dark gray with brown undertones. Between Iron Ore and Gauntlet Gray. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 10) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Peppercorn 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 Peppercorn. Woodsmoke (VR078C) comes in with a Delta E of 2.3, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Woodsmoke is the closest Valspar option at LRV 12. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Peppercorn
Woodsmoke is the closest Valspar option at LRV 12. Very close match.
| Peppercorn | Woodsmoke | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 10 | 12 |
| Hex | #676460 | #716F6B |
| Undertone | Warm Dark Charcoal | Warm Smoky Charcoal |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Peppercorn has warm dark charcoal undertones. A warm, rich dark gray with brown undertones. Between Iron Ore and Gauntlet Gray.
Woodsmoke has warm smoky charcoal undertones. A warm, smoky charcoal. The color of wood smoke. Darker than Tempered Gray, with a warm, organic quality.
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
Peppercorn in Your Room
Warm and dark. Rich without being black. Shows brown warmth in bright light.
Woodsmoke in Your Room
Warm and smoky. In bright rooms, the warm brown-charcoal shows. In dim rooms, approaches a warm near-black.
LRV and Brightness
Peppercorn has an LRV of 10, while Woodsmoke has an LRV of 12. 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 Peppercorn
Sherwin Williams recommends Peppercorn for: front door, accent wall, cabinets, exterior trim, shutters. With an LRV of 10, 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.
Woodsmoke is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, front door, cabinets, office. 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.
Peppercorn in Other Brands
Looking for Peppercorn equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Peppercorn (SW 7674) is Woodsmoke (VR078C) with a Delta E of 2.3, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Woodsmoke is the closest Valspar option at LRV 12. 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. Peppercorn is a Sherwin Williams color with warm dark charcoal undertones and an LRV of 10. Woodsmoke is a Valspar color with warm smoky charcoal undertones and an LRV of 12. With a Delta E of 2.3, 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 2.3, 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.