Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Artisan Blue |
| SKU | M228 |
| Hex | #A3B6BB |
| RGB | 163, 182, 187 |
| HSL | 192°, 15%, 69% |
| LRV | 45 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Artisan Blue
Artisan Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 45, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Artisan Blue 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 5The 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
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Artisan Blue within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #A3B6BB in HSL space. Pair Artisan Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Valspar Artisan Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Artisan Blue 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 M228 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Artisan Blue
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Artisan Blue is Languid Blue (SW 6226). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Languid Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Languid Blue swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Artisan Blue
Behr's nearest match is Bay View (ECC-22-2), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.22). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Artisan Blue without repainting risk. See the full Bay View swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Artisan Blue
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Artisan Blue is Santorini Blue (1634). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Santorini Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Santorini Blue swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Artisan Blue
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Blue By You (PPG1035-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Artisan Blue without repainting risk. See the full Blue By You swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Artisan Blue
Glidden's nearest match is Blue By You (PPG1035-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Artisan Blue without repainting risk. See the full Blue By You swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Artisan Blue
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Artisan Blue is Tempest Wind (431-2DB). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Tempest Wind and you'll get the same color. See the full Tempest Wind swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Artisan Blue
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Artisan Blue is Falkland Blue (HGSW 3316). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Falkland Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Falkland Blue swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Artisan Blue
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Marine Layer (DET599), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Artisan Blue without repainting risk. See the full Marine Layer swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Artisan Blue
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Artisan Blue. The nearest is Rainy Days (JG-01) at ΔE 3.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rainy Days swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Artisan Blue
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Artisan Blue is In the Blue (0504) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 43 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full In the Blue swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Artisan Blue
Rodda has no exact twin of Artisan Blue. The nearest is Patina (CA190) at ΔE 3.68 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Patina swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Artisan Blue
C2 Paint's nearest match is Well Water (BD18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Artisan Blue without repainting risk. See the full Well Water swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Artisan Blue
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Artisan Blue is Costa (COSTA) — very close at ΔE 2.97, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Costa swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Artisan Blue
Backdrop's nearest match is Underdog (BD-UD), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It runs slightly darker (LRV 41 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Artisan Blue without repainting risk. See the full Underdog swatch →