Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2)
A soft, powder-light blue-gray. Named for the volcanic rock ground to dust. More blue than Tidal Salt, lighter than Stardew.
About Sherwin Williams Basalt Powder
Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2) is a blue from Sherwin Williams's collection with an LRV of 58 and soft blue undertones. A soft, powder-light blue-gray. Named for the volcanic rock ground to dust. More blue than Tidal Salt, lighter than Stardew.
At an LRV of 58, Basalt Powder is a medium-depth color with real presence on the wall. It will add noticeable color and warmth to a room, creating a more cocooning, intimate atmosphere than lighter colors. It works beautifully in rooms with good natural light, and can be used on accent walls in rooms where a full application might feel too enclosed. Pair it with a bright white trim color (LRV 85+) for clean contrast.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
Basalt Powder has an LRV of 58, placing it in the medium range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.
Undertone Analysis
Basalt Powder has soft blue undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.
A soft, powder-light blue-gray. Named for the volcanic rock ground to dust. More blue than Tidal Salt, lighter than Stardew. Neutral undertones give you the most flexibility in decorating. This color should coordinate well with both warm elements (wood, brass, cream) and cool elements (chrome, marble, blue-gray), making it a versatile foundation for any design direction.
Lighting Behavior
The blue is soft and powdery. In bright rooms, a gentle blue. In dim rooms, a cool, calming gray.
Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Basalt Powder with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.
Best Rooms for Basalt Powder
Sherwin Williams recommends Basalt Powder for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway, laundry room.
Closest Matches in Other Brands
Find the closest equivalent to Sherwin Williams Basalt Powder from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.
Benjamin Moore Matches
Behr Matches
Frequently Asked Questions
We are still researching the best Sherwin Williams match for this color. Check back soon for updated match data.
Basalt Powder has soft blue undertones. A soft, powder-light blue-gray. Named for the volcanic rock ground to dust. More blue than Tidal Salt, lighter than Stardew. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.
Basalt Powder (SW 9162-2) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 58, which puts it in the medium range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 58, this is a medium-depth color that adds warmth and character while still reflecting a reasonable amount of light.
Basalt Powder leans neutral, with soft blue undertones that do not strongly push warm or cool. This makes it one of the more versatile colors in its family, pairing well with both warm and cool accent colors and finishes. The blue is soft and powdery. In bright rooms, a gentle blue. In dim rooms, a cool, calming gray.
Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.