Stardew → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Sherwin Williams Stardew (SW 9138), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Stardew
If you love Sherwin Williams Stardew but need a Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Stardew (SW 9138) is a medium blue with soft blue-gray undertones. A soft, airy blue-gray. Light and serene. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 51) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Stardew and every Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball match for Stardew. Light Blue (No.22) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Light Blue is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 50. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Stardew
Light Blue is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 50. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.
| Stardew | Light Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 51 | 50 |
| Hex | #C1CDCE | #BECCCC |
| Undertone | Soft Blue-Gray | Classic Light Blue |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
Undertone Comparison
Stardew has soft blue-gray undertones. A soft, airy blue-gray. Light and serene.
Light Blue has classic light blue undertones. One of Farrow & Ball's most iconic colors. A classic, sophisticated light blue with gray undertones that keep it from feeling juvenile or overly bright. The blue of drawing rooms and Swedish country houses.
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
Stardew in Your Room
Soft blue in bright rooms. Cool gray in dim rooms.
Light Blue in Your Room
In bright light, it reads as a definite but soft blue. In dim rooms, the gray pulls it into sophisticated neutral territory. Under warm light, the blue softens. Under cool light, it brightens beautifully.
LRV and Brightness
Stardew has an LRV of 51, while Light Blue has an LRV of 50. 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 Stardew
Sherwin Williams recommends Stardew for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway. With an LRV of 51, this is a medium 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.
Light Blue is recommended for: bedroom, bathroom, living room, nursery, dining room. 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.
Stardew in Other Brands
Looking for Stardew equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Stardew (SW 9138) is Light Blue (No.22) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Light Blue is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 50. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth. 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. Stardew is a Sherwin Williams color with soft blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 51. Light Blue is a Farrow & Ball color with classic light blue undertones and an LRV of 50. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, 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 Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball 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.