Driftwood Blues
V138-3 · #AAB7BF · LRV 46.2 — cool blue tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
What Color Is Driftwood Blues, Really?
Driftwood Blues reads as a cool blue tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Valspar V138-3 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Driftwood Blues
Driftwood Blues 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.
How Lighting Changes Driftwood Blues
Driftwood Blues sits in the mid-range at LRV 46.2, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its blue 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.
Most complaints about Driftwood Blues are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Valspar V138-3 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | LakesideSW 9683 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.9 | 47 | Color page → |
| Behr | Calming SpaceICC-45 · Behr | 1.0 | 46 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Manor Blue1627 · Benjamin Moore | 1.1 | 46 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Smoke ScreenPPG1038-4 · PPG / Glidden | 2.5 | 46 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Smoke ScreenPPG1038-4 · Glidden | 2.5 | 46 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Tempest Wind431-2DB · Dutch Boy | 2.9 | 46 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Driftwood Blues within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #AAB7BF in HSL space. Pair Driftwood Blues with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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