Watershed
M305 · #017887 · LRV 14.2 — cool blue-green tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Salamander6
- 2Watershed14.2
- 3Adirondack Blue22
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
What Color Is Watershed, Really?
Watershed reads as a cool blue-green tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar M305 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Watershed
Watershed works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Watershed
With an LRV of 14.2, Watershed is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its teal 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.
Most complaints about Watershed 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 M305 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 | Great FallsSW 6495 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.5 | 15 | Color page → |
| Behr | The Real TealP470-7 · Behr | 1.7 | 15 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Caribbean Blue Water2055-30 · Benjamin Moore | 1.9 | 16 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Hypnotic SeaPPG1234-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.0 | 15 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Hypnotic SeaPPG1234-7 · Glidden | 3.5 | 15 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Deep Marine134-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.6 | 13 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Watershed 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 #017887 in HSL space. Pair Watershed with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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