CP

Valspar MermanT601 · #6A8097 · LRV 20.6

Merman reads as a cool blue tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the color's details, what Valspar T601 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

VALSPAR MERMAN
RGB 106, 128, 151LRV 20.6

Color spec

BrandValspar
NameMerman
SKUT601
Hex#6A8097
RGB106, 128, 151
HSL211°, 18%, 50%
LRV20.6
Undertonecool blue tone
FamilyBlue
See Valspar Merman on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Valspar Merman

With an LRV of 20.6, Merman is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.

Merman works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.

Closest matches by brand

14 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 blue from that brand.

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.43
All blue at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 6536 · #6C7F9A · ΔE 2.43 · LRV 21

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.38
All blue at Behr →
ICC-74 · #678198 · ΔE 1.38 · LRV 21
MQ5-52 · #6A7F9C · ΔE 2.62 · LRV 21
N540-5 · #677C99 · ΔE 2.95 · LRV 20
MQ5-60 · #678596 · ΔE 4.83 · LRV 22

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 5
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
1672 · #67818F · ΔE 5 · LRV 22

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.9
All blue at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1163-5 · #6D8196 · ΔE 0.9 · LRV 21
PPG1160-5 · #5B819F · ΔE 3.96 · LRV 20
PPG1152-5 · #648496 · ΔE 4.85 · LRV 21

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.62
All blue at Glidden →
PPG1163-5 · #6C8096 · ΔE 0.62 · LRV 21
90BG 22/141 · #698297 · ΔE 1.78 · LRV 22
30BB 22/144 · #718099 · ΔE 3.27 · LRV 22

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.43
All blue at Dutch Boy →
339-5DB · #6C7F9A · ΔE 2.43 · LRV 21
337-5DB · #6B8391 · ΔE 4.63 · LRV 21
HGSW 2393 · #6C7F9A · ΔE 2.43 · LRV 21
HGSW 6536 · #6C7F9A · ΔE 2.43 · LRV 21

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.56
All blue at Dunn-Edwards →
DE5872 · #6C849B · ΔE 1.56 · LRV 21
DE5886 · #6A819E · ΔE 2.27 · LRV 20
DE5823 · #70828F · ΔE 4.17 · LRV 20
DE5816 · #65869B · ΔE 4.33 · LRV 21

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.64
All blue at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 215 · #5E86A3 · ΔE 4.64 · LRV 22

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.55
All blue at Diamond Vogel →
0626 · #65778D · ΔE 3.55 · LRV 18
0590 · #687C9C · ΔE 4.05 · LRV 20
0647 · #567FA3 · ΔE 4.95 · LRV 20

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.05
All blue at Hirshfield's →
0506 · #70818E · ΔE 4.05 · LRV 23

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.81
All blue at Rodda →
R088 · #5F7688 · ΔE 4.81 · LRV 18

Annie Sloan

31 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.39
All blue at Annie Sloan →
GREEK BLUE · #6A88A2 · ΔE 3.39 · LRV 23

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.05
All blue at Kompozit →
0506 · #70818E · ΔE 4.05 · LRV 21

Similar Valspar colors

closest in the Valspar deck

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

4004-4A · LRV 20.7
M309 · LRV 21.2
V073-5 · LRV 20
4008-4B · LRV 20.4
4008-4A · LRV 22
4005-4A · LRV 23

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #6A8097 in HSL space. Pair Merman with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#6A8097 + #97816A
TRIADIC
#6A8097 · #976A80 · #80976A
ANALOGOUS
#6A9797 · #6A8097 · #6A6A97

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
4.08:1AA Large
Sample text on black
5.15:1AA

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

Valspar Merman Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Merman 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 T601 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merman

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merman is Searching Blue (SW 6536) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Searching Blue swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Merman

Behr's nearest match is Provence (ICC-74), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.38). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Merman without repainting risk. See the full Provence swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Merman

Benjamin Moore doesn't make a true equivalent of Merman — the nearest deck color, Alfresco (1672), is clearly different (ΔE 5). For an exact match, any Benjamin Moore retailer can custom-tint Valspar T601 instead. See the full Alfresco swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Merman

The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Merman is Silver Blueberry (PPG1163-5). At ΔE 0.9 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Silver Blueberry and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Blueberry swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Merman

The closest Glidden equivalent of Merman is Silver Blueberry (PPG1163-5). At ΔE 0.62 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6). If Glidden is your counter, order Silver Blueberry and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Blueberry swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Merman

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Merman is Lustrous Blue (339-5DB) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Lustrous Blue swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merman

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merman is Searching Blue (HGSW 2393) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Searching Blue swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Merman

At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Merman is Bay View (DE5886) — very close at ΔE 2.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20.6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bay View swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Merman

Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Merman. The nearest is Belvedere Blue (NO. 215) at ΔE 4.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 20.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Belvedere Blue swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Merman

Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Merman. The nearest is Madonna Blue (0590) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 20.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Madonna Blue swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Merman

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Merman. The nearest is Ocean Storms (0506) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 23 vs 20.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ocean Storms swatch →

Annie Sloan Equivalent of Merman

At Annie Sloan, the closest color to Merman is Greek Blue (GREEK BLUE) — very close at ΔE 3.39, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 23 vs 20.6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Greek Blue swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Merman

Kompozit has no exact twin of Merman. The nearest is Ocean Storms (0506) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 20.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ocean Storms swatch →

EXPLORE MORE