Notre Dame → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Valspar Notre Dame (VR083B), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Notre Dame
If you love Valspar Notre Dame but need a Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Valspar, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Notre Dame (VR083B) is a medium beige with warm sandy beige undertones. A warm, sandy medium beige with organic undertones. Named for the historic cathedral's stone. Earthy and grounding with a timeless quality that works in both traditional and transitional homes. To find a good Sherwin Williams 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 Notre Dame and every Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams option is Balanced Beige (SW 7037) with a Delta E of 4.4, which is a "good match" level match. Balanced Beige is close. Similar warmth and depth, though the undertone lean differs slightly. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Notre Dame
Balanced Beige is close. Similar warmth and depth, though the undertone lean differs slightly.
| Notre Dame | Balanced Beige | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 48 | 46 |
| Hex | #C3B9AA | #C0B5A8 |
| Undertone | Warm Sandy Beige | Warm Balanced Beige |
| Family | Beige | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
Notre Dame has warm sandy beige undertones. A warm, sandy medium beige with organic undertones. Named for the historic cathedral's stone. Earthy and grounding with a timeless quality that works in both traditional and transitional homes.
Balanced Beige has warm balanced beige undertones. A medium warm beige. Deeper than Accessible Beige with a well-balanced warm 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
Notre Dame in Your Room
The sandy warmth is consistent and reliable. In bright rooms, it reads as a warm, natural beige. In dim rooms, it feels cozy without being dark. The earthy quality pairs well with natural materials like wood and stone.
Balanced Beige in Your Room
Reads as a warm, substantial beige. The balance keeps it from leaning too yellow or too gray.
LRV and Brightness
Notre Dame has an LRV of 48, while Balanced Beige has an LRV of 46. 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 Notre Dame
Valspar recommends Notre Dame for: living room, dining room, bedroom, hallway, study. 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.
Balanced Beige is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, office. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Balanced Beige in the same rooms you planned for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame in Other Brands
Looking for Notre Dame equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Notre Dame (VR083B) is Balanced Beige (SW 7037) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Balanced Beige is close. Similar warmth and depth, though the undertone lean differs slightly. 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. Notre Dame is a Valspar color with warm sandy beige undertones and an LRV of 48. Balanced Beige is a Sherwin Williams color with warm balanced beige undertones and an LRV of 46. With a Delta E of 4.4, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 4.4, 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 Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams 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.