Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Gray Matter |
| SKU | T521 |
| Hex | #A09995 |
| RGB | 160, 153, 149 |
| HSL | 22°, 5%, 61% |
| LRV | 32.3 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Gray Matter
Gray Matter sits in the mid-range at LRV 32.3, 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.
Gray Matter 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
16 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
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Gray Matter 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 #A09995 in HSL space. Pair Gray Matter 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 Matter Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Gray Matter 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 T521 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Matter
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Gray Matter is Polished Concrete (SW 9167). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32.3). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Polished Concrete and you'll get the same color. See the full Polished Concrete swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Behr, the closest color to Gray Matter is Fashion Gray (PPU18-15) — very close at ΔE 2.05, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32.3) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fashion Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Gray Matter is Willow Creek (1468) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32.3) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Willow Creek swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Gray Matter
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Gray Matter is Rock Slide (PPG1022-4) — very close at ΔE 3.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32.3) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rock Slide swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Glidden, the closest color to Gray Matter is Stone Grey (30YY 31/024) — very close at ΔE 2.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stone Grey swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Gray Matter is Padlock Gray (438-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Padlock Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Matter
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Gray Matter is Highland Grey (HGSW 2444). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32.3). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Highland Grey and you'll get the same color. See the full Highland Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Gray Matter is Beachwood Drive (DEGR07) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32.3) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Beachwood Drive swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Gray Matter
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Watering Can (JG-135), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32.3) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Matter without repainting risk. See the full Watering Can swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Gray Matter
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Worsted (NO. 284), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Matter without repainting risk. See the full Worsted swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Gray Matter is Sparrow (0554) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Gray Matter is Jet Gray (0548) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jet Gray swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Gray Matter
Rodda has no exact twin of Gray Matter. The nearest is Burlap (CA070) at ΔE 4.02 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32.3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Burlap swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Gray Matter
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Gray Matter is Tin Man (C2-970) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tin Man swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Gray Matter
At Kompozit, the closest color to Gray Matter is Jet Gray (0548) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32.3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jet Gray swatch →