CP

Valspar ArtfulT685 · #A0AAA6 · LRV 39

Artful reads as a cool green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what Valspar T685 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

VALSPAR ARTFUL
RGB 160, 170, 166LRV 39

Color spec

BrandValspar
NameArtful
SKUT685
Hex#A0AAA6
RGB160, 170, 166
HSL156°, 6%, 65%
LRV39
Undertonecool green tone
FamilyGray
See Valspar Artful on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Valspar Artful

Artful sits in the mid-range at LRV 39, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.

Artful is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.

Closest matches by brand

17 brands within ΔE 5

The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.25
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9638 · #A2A8A6 · ΔE 2.25 · LRV 38
SW 6213 · #9BAAA2 · ΔE 2.99 · LRV 39
SW 31 · #9AABAB · ΔE 3.1 · LRV 39
SW 7659 · #A5A9A8 · ΔE 3.44 · LRV 39

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.93
All gray at Behr →
PPU25-15 · #A7ABA4 · ΔE 2.93 · LRV 40
ECC-35-1 · #A6AAA2 · ΔE 3.09 · LRV 39
QE-52 · #A0ACAE · ΔE 3.17 · LRV 40
PPU25-04 · #A4A6A3 · ΔE 3.91 · LRV 38

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.75
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
1579 · #9DA8A1 · ΔE 1.75 · LRV 38
CC-690 · #9DA8A1 · ΔE 1.75 · LRV 38
1593 · #A0A8A8 · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 39
CW-700 · #A3A8A8 · ΔE 3.43 · LRV 39

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.34
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG10-04 · #A0ADAD · ΔE 2.34 · LRV 40
PPG1010-4 · #A5A8A5 · ΔE 3.36 · LRV 39
PPG0994-4 · #A8AAA5 · ΔE 3.68 · LRV 40
PPG0996-3 · #A8A8A5 · ΔE 4.89 · LRV 39

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.24
All gray at Glidden →
50GY 38/042 · #A3A8A3 · ΔE 2.24 · LRV 38
PPG0994-4 · #A7AAA5 · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 40
PPG1010-4 · #A4A7A4 · ΔE 3.39 · LRV 38
PPG0996-3 · #A7A7A4 · ΔE 4.9 · LRV 39

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.43
All gray at Dutch Boy →
426-5DB · #9FAAA6 · ΔE 0.43 · LRV 39
427-4DB · #A0AFA8 · ΔE 2.83 · LRV 41
436-4DB · #A4A7A6 · ΔE 3.9 · LRV 38
437-3DB · #A4A4A0 · ΔE 4.88 · LRV 37
HGSW 3295 · #9BAAA2 · ΔE 2.99 · LRV 38
HGSW 6213 · #9BAAA2 · ΔE 2.99 · LRV 38
HGSW 1475 · #A5A9A8 · ΔE 3.44 · LRV 39
HGSW 7659 · #A5A9A8 · ΔE 3.44 · LRV 39

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.55
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DET591 · #A6AEAA · ΔE 1.55 · LRV 41
DE6291 · #9DA7A0 · ΔE 1.77 · LRV 35
DET563 · #9BA9AB · ΔE 3.25 · LRV 39
DEGR64 · #A8AAA4 · ΔE 3.68 · LRV 40

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.79
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-137 · #A3A7A1 · ΔE 2.79 · LRV 38
JG-162 · #AAB0AD · ΔE 2.79 · LRV 43
JG-15 · #A7A9A3 · ΔE 3.66 · LRV 39

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.61
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. G7 · #9FB0A5 · ΔE 4.61 · LRV 41

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.74
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0490 · #A1ADAE · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 40
H045 · #9FABAD · ΔE 3.13 · LRV 38

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.15
All gray at Hirshfield's →
H0045 · #9EABAD · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 39
0490 · #9CAAAC · ΔE 3.23 · LRV 40
0484 · #9AAFAF · ΔE 4.34 · LRV 42

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.07
All gray at Rodda →
R092 · #A7AEB0 · ΔE 4.07 · LRV 42
CA178 · #AAAEA2 · ΔE 4.47 · LRV 41

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.2
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-715 · #9EACA0 · ΔE 4.2 · LRV 39
C2-988 · #A8A9A1 · ΔE 4.29 · LRV 39
C2-987 · #A8AAA9 · ΔE 4.39 · LRV 40

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.1
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-DP-78 · #99AAA4 · ΔE 3.1 · LRV 38
PNT100-MD-43 · #9AB0AB · ΔE 4.68 · LRV 41

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.35
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-NU · #A4A89F · ΔE 3.35 · LRV 38

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.23
All gray at Kompozit →
0490 · #9CAAAC · ΔE 3.23 · LRV 39
0484 · #9AAFAF · ΔE 4.34 · LRV 41

Similar Valspar colors

closest in the Valspar deck

The nearest shades to Artful within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

V115-2 · LRV 38.4
5001-3C · LRV 39.4
T684 · LRV 37.9
V100-4 · LRV 38.5
8004-32D · LRV 40
V121-2 · LRV 38.4

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #A0AAA6 in HSL space. Pair Artful with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#A0AAA6 + #AAA0A4
TRIADIC
#A0AAA6 · #A6A0AA · #AAA6A0
ANALOGOUS
#A0AAA1 · #A0AAA6 · #A0A9AA

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.39:1fail
Sample text on black
8.8:1AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Valspar Artful Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Artful from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Valspar T685 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Artful

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Artful is Breakwater (SW 9638) — very close at ΔE 2.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Breakwater swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Artful

At Behr, the closest color to Artful is Silver Clouds (ECC-35-1) — very close at ΔE 3.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Clouds swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Artful

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Artful is Adagio (1593) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Adagio swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Artful

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Artful is Stepping Stone (PPG1010-4) — very close at ΔE 3.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stepping Stone swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Artful

At Glidden, the closest color to Artful is Woodlawn (50GY 38/042) — very close at ΔE 2.24, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Woodlawn swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Artful

The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Artful is Explore The Shore (426-5DB). At ΔE 0.43 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Explore The Shore and you'll get the same color. See the full Explore The Shore swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Artful

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Artful is Steel Piling (HGSW 1475) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Steel Piling swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Artful

At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Artful is Mission Bay Blue (DET563) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mission Bay Blue swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Artful

At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Artful is Vintage Weathervane (JG-137) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vintage Weathervane swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Artful

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Artful is Pale Slate (H045) — very close at ΔE 3.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pale Slate swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Artful

At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Artful is Citadel Blue (H0045) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Citadel Blue swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Artful

C2 Paint has no exact twin of Artful. The nearest is Pavement (C2-988) at ΔE 4.29 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Pavement swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Artful

At Clare, the closest color to Artful is Mellow Mood (PNT100-DP-78) — very close at ΔE 3.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mellow Mood swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Artful

At Backdrop, the closest color to Artful is Nuevo (BD-NU) — very close at ΔE 3.35, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nuevo swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Artful

At Kompozit, the closest color to Artful is Beacon Fog (0490) — very close at ΔE 3.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Beacon Fog swatch →

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