Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Subtle |
| SKU | T542 |
| Hex | #E5E2E3 |
| RGB | 229, 226, 227 |
| HSL | 340°, 5%, 89% |
| LRV | 76.7 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | White |
About Valspar Subtle
Subtle is very light — LRV 76.7, close to white. It opens up small or dim rooms and keeps walls feeling airy. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In north light it can read slightly cooler; a warm white trim alongside keeps it from going clinical.
Subtle shines on ceilings, trim and in small or low-light rooms where you need to stretch the light — and as a calm whole-home backdrop. As a white, it's a natural for trim, ceilings and cabinets, and a clean backdrop for art.
Closest matches by brand
18 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 white 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
Portola Paints
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Subtle 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 #E5E2E3 in HSL space. Pair Subtle 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 Subtle Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Subtle 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 T542 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Subtle
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Mauve Tinge (SW 6280), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.39). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Mauve Tinge swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Subtle
The closest Behr equivalent of Subtle is Mystical Mist (PR-W01). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 77 vs 76.7). If Behr is your counter, order Mystical Mist and you'll get the same color. See the full Mystical Mist swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Subtle
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Dreamy Cloud (2117-70), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 77 vs 76.7) and carries a cool violet undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Dreamy Cloud swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Subtle
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Misty Morn (PPG1179-1), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.41). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Misty Morn swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Subtle
Glidden's nearest match is Misty Morn (PPG1179-1), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Misty Morn swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Subtle
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Subtle is Chalky Purple (345-1DB). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm magenta undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76.7). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Chalky Purple and you'll get the same color. See the full Chalky Purple swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Subtle
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Subtle is Sterling White (HGSW 4056) — very close at ΔE 3.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 77 vs 76.7) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sterling White swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Subtle
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Mountain Air (DE6393), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.43). It runs noticeably darker (LRV 70 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Mountain Air swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Subtle
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Subtle is Salt (NO. CC5) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 78 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Salt swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Subtle
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Clytemnestra (1307), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.64). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 77 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Clytemnestra swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Subtle
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Clytemnestra (1307), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.85). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Clytemnestra swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Subtle
Rodda has no exact twin of Subtle. The nearest is Porcelain (CA026) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 76 vs 76.7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Porcelain swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Subtle
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Subtle is Shimmer (C2-788) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 79 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shimmer swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Subtle
At Clare, the closest color to Subtle is Penthouse (PNT100-LT-05) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 79 vs 76.7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Penthouse swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Subtle
Kompozit's nearest match is Clytemnestra (1307), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.85). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 77 vs 76.7) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Subtle without repainting risk. See the full Clytemnestra swatch →