4 Beautiful Light Gray Paint Colors with Undertones: VALSPAR

I’m sure you know by now that I’m a loyal gal when it comes to paint and have been in long-term relationships with Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams for years (Ben and Sherm in private). HOWEVER, when Lowes came to town, I was super intrigued by Valspar and its range of colors. I ordered a fan deck and one week later, Val and I are officially engaged.

And btw: There are no photos – its true. I’m committed on my site to showing only photos of my E-Design client’s homes and I just haven’t had anybody use Valspar yet – but the INFO is still valid, so keep reading! If you’re in it for the pictures, you might want to check out the blog posts listed at the end of this one.

Now I’m still learning a lot about these colors (really, the learning never ends), but I wanted to share my FOUR FAVE light grays with you as I introduce this line of paints to my blog for the first time…

Valspar Notre Dame 5006 1B

This is probably my fave gray in the Valspar range. Notre Dame is the perfect depth – not too light, not too dark and has very little noticeable undertone, it’s just a soft, gentle, slightly cool gray that has just a weee willy wink of a cool green undertone. Not cold and icy, just cool-toned.

Notre Dame is comparable to Benjamin Moore Silver Song

Valspar Gravity 4005-1B

Gravity is a nice cool gray with a subtle cool purple undertone and is undoubtedly the FRESHEST of the bunch. Warm purple can lean toward the pinkish side, cool purples can lean toward the blueish side – this is a cool one. Compare this bad boy to Notre Dame and you will see that undertone pop. That’s not to say you’ll have ‘purple’ walls, you won’t, but like most grays, you WILL have some noticeable undertones.

Gravity is comparable to Sherwin Williams Gray Screen (Gravity is just slightly more purple).

Valspar Tempered Gray 4004-1A

Tempered Gray is a cool gray with a subtle stoney look to it (not stoned…stoney) which gives it a slightly more earth-toned look compared to the fresh, clean look of Gravity.

Tempered Gray is comparable to Benjamin Moore Light Pewter, but it’s slightly more gray.

Valspar Filtered Shade 4003-1B

This one I love (but really, are there any I don’t? Filtered Shade is a beautiful light gray with a slightly warm feel to it (without looking remotely greige). Of the 4 it’s the most ‘pretty’ with a slightly feminine and UBER subtle purple/brown undertone.

Filtered Shade is comparable to Benjamin Moore Silver Chain

And I would appreciate if you would keep my love affair with Valspar a secret. Ben and Sherm can be sensitive about these things, so I’m keeping it hush-hush for now. Just joking – they don’t actually know I exist (like most of my pretend boyfriends growing up) and I don’t get anything for pushin’ their brands – I just love them!

Want to see some comparable grays AND photos? 

The 10 Best Sherwin Williams Gray Paint Colors

The Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors

Chat soon,

KYLIE M INTERIORS E-DESIGN     VIRTUAL, ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING, SPECIALIZING IN BENJAMIN MOORE AND SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS

Originally written in 2016, updated in 2019