Softened Green → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Sherwin Williams Softened Green (SW 6177), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Softened Green
If you love Sherwin Williams Softened Green 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.
Softened Green (SW 6177) is a medium green with soft green undertones. A light, muted green with gray undertones. Fresh and calming. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 43) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Softened Green 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 Softened Green. Sparkling Sage (VR093D) comes in with a Delta E of 2.3, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Sparkling Sage is the closest Valspar option at LRV 45. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Softened Green
Sparkling Sage is the closest Valspar option at LRV 45. Very close match.
| Softened Green | Sparkling Sage | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 43 | 45 |
| Hex | #BAC0B2 | #BBC2B6 |
| Undertone | Soft Green | Soft Sage |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Softened Green has soft green undertones. A light, muted green with gray undertones. Fresh and calming.
Sparkling Sage has soft sage undertones. A soft, muted sage green. Calming and organic, with enough gray to keep it from feeling too botanical. Valspar's answer to the sage trend that has swept interior design.
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
Softened Green in Your Room
The green is gentle. Reads as a soft, natural green-gray.
Sparkling Sage in Your Room
In bright light, the sage is soft and natural. In cool rooms, the gray comes forward. In warm rooms, the green stays gentle and pleasant. A versatile, calming neutral.
LRV and Brightness
Softened Green has an LRV of 43, while Sparkling Sage has an LRV of 45. 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 Softened Green
Sherwin Williams recommends Softened Green for: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, nursery, living room. With an LRV of 43, this is a medium color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Sparkling Sage is recommended for: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, nursery. 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.
Softened Green in Other Brands
Looking for Softened Green equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Softened Green (SW 6177) is Sparkling Sage (VR093D) with a Delta E of 2.3, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Sparkling Sage is the closest Valspar option at LRV 45. 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. Softened Green is a Sherwin Williams color with soft green undertones and an LRV of 43. Sparkling Sage is a Valspar color with soft sage undertones and an LRV of 45. 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.