Magic Spell → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Valspar Magic Spell (VR092C), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Magic Spell
If you love Valspar Magic Spell 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 Valspar, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Magic Spell (VR092C) is a medium gray with cool neutral gray undertones. A balanced, cool-leaning mid-tone gray. Valspar's answer to the clean, modern gray trend. Minimal undertone pull means it stays gray in virtually all conditions. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 48) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Magic Spell 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 results are decent but not perfect. The closest Farrow & Ball option is Hardwick White (No.5) with a Delta E of 3.7, which is a "good match" level match. Hardwick White is the closest F&B option. Similar character. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Magic Spell
Hardwick White is the closest F&B option. Similar character.
| Magic Spell | Hardwick White | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 48 | 49 |
| Hex | #C0BEBA | #C5BFB4 |
| Undertone | Cool Neutral Gray | Warm Stone-Greige |
| Family | Gray | Greige |
Undertone Comparison
Magic Spell has cool neutral gray undertones. A balanced, cool-leaning mid-tone gray. Valspar's answer to the clean, modern gray trend. Minimal undertone pull means it stays gray in virtually all conditions.
Hardwick White has warm stone-greige undertones. A warm greige with an organic, stone-like quality. More depth than Ammonite, warmer than Cornforth White.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Magic Spell's cool neutral gray quality may read differently than Hardwick White's warm stone-greige character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Magic Spell in Your Room
Clean and neutral. One of the most dependable grays in the Valspar range. Does not pull pink, green, or purple. Under warm light, it reads as a balanced gray. Under cool light, it stays clean.
Hardwick White in Your Room
Reads as a warm, natural mid-tone neutral. The stone quality makes it feel organic and timeless.
LRV and Brightness
Magic Spell has an LRV of 48, while Hardwick White has an LRV of 49. 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 Magic Spell
Valspar recommends Magic Spell for: bathroom, bedroom, office, hallway, living room. With an LRV of 48, 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.
Hardwick White is recommended for: living room, bedroom, kitchen, hallway, 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.
Magic Spell in Other Brands
Looking for Magic Spell equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Magic Spell (VR092C) is Hardwick White (No.5) with a Delta E of 3.7, which rates as a "good match" match. Hardwick White is the closest F&B option. Similar character. 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. Magic Spell is a Valspar color with cool neutral gray undertones and an LRV of 48. Hardwick White is a Farrow & Ball color with warm stone-greige undertones and an LRV of 49. With a Delta E of 3.7, 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 3.7, 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 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.