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A Deep Dive into Valspar Filtered Shade (Plus Coordinating Colors!)

    There aren’t a lot of grays in the paint world that are true grays without a strong undertone, but Valspar Filtered Shade is one of the best! This versatile light gray almost reads like an off-white, and it coordinates well with nearly any other color.

    Valspar Filtered Shade on beadboard with coordinating color chips propped up behind a small potted cactus. Over top of the photo is a watch of Filtered Shade on a paint lid.

    Let’s talk about Filtered Shade’s undertones, see coordinating colors, and go over some alternatives from your favorite brands!

    What Are the Undertones of Valspar Filtered Shade?

    Filtered Shade is a nearly perfect gray, but it does have subtle violet undertones.

    Swatch of Valspar Filtered Shade over a white background with leaf shadows on the wall.

    The color never truly reads purple, but in a world where warm grays can lean beige or violet, Filtered Shade is more likely to read violet.

    I would not say that this color ever reads blue or green.

    Filtered Shade has an LRV of 58, which puts it in the perfect range where we find most whole-home neutral paint colors.

    Valspar Filtered Shade marked at 56 on a light reflectance value (LRV) chart from 0 (true black) to 100 (pure white).

    I find because it is so neutral, it actually reads lighter, almost like an off-white. Only next to white trim do you really see the contrast.

    Here is the entire color strip from Valspar that features Filtered Shade:

    The Valspar Filtered Shade color strip features colors from light to dark: Modern Gray, Filtered Shade, Rocky Bluffs, Tabby Cat Gray, Rugged Suede, and Semi-Sweet.

    Valspar Filtered Shade in a Color Palette

    Here are the colors that I recommend using with Filtered Shade. While true grays may be a little less popular now, I paired it with updated colors that are more on trend.

    Valspar Filtered Shade color palette features Filtered Shade, Freshwater Pearls, Backwoods, and Black Fox, all on paint lids over a wood plank background.

    Coordinating White Paint Color for Filtered Shade

    To keep Filtered Shade looking more modern, you will want to preserve its little hint of warmth. For that reason, I recommend pairing it with a cool white. I went with an off-white in order to minimize the contrast and keep Filtered Shade looking quite light.

    Valspar Filtered Shade paint dot, swatched beside a paint dot of Freshwater Pearls.

    Freshwater Pearls fits the bill on both counts! It is a cool grayish off-white. Next to Filtered Shade it just looks white, and it allows Filtered Shade to read almost like an off white.

    Try Filtered Shade with Benjamin Moore Backwoods

    Filtered Shade will work with pretty much any shade of green. It is such a perfect gray that coordinating colors are actually not that picky. I decided to go with the warm deep gray-green of Benjamin Moore Backwoods.

    Valspar Filtered Shade paint dot, swatched beside a paint dot of Backwoods.

    If you want to stick with Valspar, Murky Sage is another beautiful gray green option.

    Neutral Paint Color to Use with Filtered Shade

    I like the idea of using the light gray of Filtered Shade with a deep neutral gray-brown. I went with Sherwin Williams Black Fox.

    Valspar Filtered Shade paint dot, swatched beside a paint dot of Black Fox.

    You could also use Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, or Valspar Catch of the Day.

    Valspar Recommends These Coordinating Colors

    Here is a look at the coordinating color palette that Valspar suggests for Filtered Shade:

    Valspar Filtered Shade alongside recommended coordinating colors Antique White, Polar White, and hobgoblin. All colors are on paint lids over a blue watercolor background.

    Pair Filtered Shade and Valspar Hobgoblin

    I’ll be honest, Hobgoblin is the only color that I like with Filtered Shade from Valspar’s recommendations. This teal-leaning blue would make a rich accent color for the simple gray of Filtered Shade.

    Valspar Filtered Shade paint dot, swatched beside a paint dot of Hobgoblin.

    Use Filtered Shade with Polar White or Antique White

    I would not personally use Filtered Shade with either of these warm whites, but especially not Antique White.

    Valspar Filtered Shade paint dot, swatched beside a paint dot of Antique White.

    This cream color would technically be complementary to the undertone of Filtered Shade, but basically that means it is likely to emphasize the purple.

    Polar White may do the same but to a lesser extent. It is fairly neutral, so it will probably work, it just wouldn’t be my first (or second) choice.

    Valspar Filtered Shade paint dot, swatched beside a paint dot of Polar White.

    If you are wanting a violet undertone, than a creamy white would be a good choice.

    Here’s another look at each of these coordinating colors:

    All 6 coordinating colors for Filtered Shade, alongside that color, all on paint lids over a forest mushroom themed painting, with leaves scattered around.

    Alternatives (Dupes) for Filtered Shade

    If you are set on the color of Filtered Shade but shopping in a different brand, here are a few shades that will help you get the same look:

    Dupes for Valspar Filtered Shade swatched alongside that color over a watercolor forest mushroom background. Dupes are On the Rocks, Silver Chain, and Dolphin Fin.

    Filtered Shade in Sherwin Williams: On the Rocks

    I have covered Sherwin Williams On the Rocks before, so if you want an idea of how Filtered Shade might look, you could always peruse the real homes I have in that post!

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on one half of the wall and Filtered Shade on the other half above white wainscoting and oak floors.

    On the Rocks is just a little bit lighter and a little bit warmer than Filtered Shade.

    Filtered Shade Benjamin Moore Equivalent

    Before we talk about the actual closest match to Filtered Shade, I want to recommend Benjamin Moore Shoreline. On paper it isn’t the exact closest match, but I have used it in my whole house before, and I find that they look incredibly similar.

    Benjamin Moore Shoreline on one half of the wall and Filtered Shade on the other half above a casual white sofa and neutral decor.

    Shoreline is a little bit lighter than Filtered Shade.

    The true closest match from Benjamin Moore is their color Silver Chain. This popular gray is a little bit darker and cooler than Filtered Shade.

    Benjamin Moore Silver Chain on one half of the wall and Filtered Shade on the other half above a casual white sofa and neutral decor.

    Because it is cooler, it is also slightly more likely to have a blue undertone rather than violet.

    Behr Filtered Shade Dupe: Dolphin Fin

    On paper, Behr Dolphin Fin is nearly identical to Filtered Shade:

    Behr Dolphin Fin on one half of the wall and Filtered Shade on the other half above a casual white sofa and neutral decor.

    In real life, Dolphin Fin is a little bit more likely to have a blue-ish undertone rather than violet.

    Here is another look at all of these dupes:

    Valspar Filtered Shade dupes On the Rocks, Silver Chain, and Dolphin Fin, swatched over a background of Filtered Shade with a graphic of a leaf's shadow in between.
    Paint dots of the 6 coordinating colors for Valspar Filtered Shade over an off-white paper background with a large paint swipe of Filtered Shade in the middle. From top left to bottom right, coordinating colors are: Backwoods, Freshwater Pearls, Black Fox, Hobgoblin, Polar White, and Antique White.

    Thank you so much for reading until the end! That really helps my blog.

    Not quite the right color? Try one of these on for size:

    Behr White Metal with swatches of dupes including: Passive, Filtered Shade, Tempered Gray, and Cement Gray
    Paint swatch over a background photo of Comfort Gray in a living room
    Photo credit: @the.tulip.cottage
    Sherwin Williams Acier color strip featuring Dorian Gray, Mindful Gray, Black Fox, Repose Gray, Dovetail, and gauntlet gray