Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Gray Embrace |
| SKU | V099-3 |
| Hex | #A8B8AF |
| RGB | 168, 184, 175 |
| HSL | 146°, 10%, 69% |
| LRV | 45.8 |
| Undertone | cool green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Gray Embrace
Gray Embrace sits in the mid-range at LRV 45.8, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its green 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.
Gray Embrace 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
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Gray Embrace 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 #A8B8AF in HSL space. Pair Gray Embrace 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 Gray Embrace Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Gray Embrace 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 V099-3 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Quietude (SW 6212), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Embrace without repainting risk. See the full Quietude swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Gray Embrace
The closest Behr equivalent of Gray Embrace is Zen (PPU11-14). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 45.8). If Behr is your counter, order Zen and you'll get the same color. See the full Zen swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Gray Embrace
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Gray Embrace is Misted Green (2138-50) — very close at ΔE 3.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Misted Green swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Gray Embrace
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Dusty Aqua (PPG10-29), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It runs slightly darker (LRV 44 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Embrace without repainting risk. See the full Dusty Aqua swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Glidden has no exact twin of Gray Embrace. The nearest is Holly Glen (PPG1144-4) at ΔE 3.55 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Holly Glen swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Gray Embrace. The nearest is Elegant Gray (429-3DB) at ΔE 3.85 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Elegant Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Embrace
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Rice Terrace (HGSW 3296), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Embrace without repainting risk. See the full Rice Terrace swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Gray Embrace
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Gray Embrace is Bidwell Blue (DET551) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 45.8) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bidwell Blue swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Gray Embrace. The nearest is Rainy Days (JG-01) at ΔE 3.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rainy Days swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Powder Blue (NO. 23), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.73). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Embrace without repainting risk. See the full Powder Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Gaelic Garden (0463), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.14). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Embrace without repainting risk. See the full Gaelic Garden swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Gray Embrace
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Gray Embrace is Ocean Cruise (0477) — very close at ΔE 2.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Cruise swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Gray Embrace
The closest Rodda equivalent of Gray Embrace is Verdigris (CA185). At ΔE 0.27 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45.8). If Rodda is your counter, order Verdigris and you'll get the same color. See the full Verdigris swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Gray Embrace
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Gray Embrace. The nearest is Silver Screen (C2-974) at ΔE 4.9 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silver Screen swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Gray Embrace
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Gray Embrace. The nearest is Svenska Blue (SVENSKA BLUE) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 45.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Svenska Blue swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Gray Embrace
At Kompozit, the closest color to Gray Embrace is Ocean Cruise (0477) — very close at ΔE 2.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45.8) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Cruise swatch →