Metropolis
4005-1C · #A9ACAD · LRV 41 — neutral with no strong undertone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Pewter Green12
- 2Retreat21
- 3Metropolis41
- 4Upward57
- 5Sea Salt63
What Color Is Metropolis, Really?
Metropolis reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Valspar 4005-1C behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Metropolis
Metropolis 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 Metropolis
Metropolis sits in the mid-range at LRV 41, 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.
Most complaints about Metropolis 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 4005-1C 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 | Morning FogSW 6255 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.6 | 42 | Color page → |
| Behr | ClassyMQ5-04 · Behr | 2.7 | 42 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Gull Wing Gray2134-50 · Benjamin Moore | 1.9 | 42 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Wright Soft GreyFLLW872 · PPG / Glidden | 1.1 | 42 | Color page → |
| Glidden | FlagstonePPG1001-4 · Glidden | 1.1 | 42 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Payphone434-3DB · Dutch Boy | 2.5 | 41 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Metropolis 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 #A9ACAD in HSL space. Pair Metropolis with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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