Tempered Sage

Technical Profile

What color is Tempered Sage? It's a very light cool yellow with the hex code #E1DBBB. Colors similar to Tempered Sage include Dunn-Edwards Silver Fern, Sherwin-Williams Celery, Vista Paint Banana Cream. Comparing swatches side by side is the best way to spot the subtle differences that distinguish these close color relatives. Tempered Sage has a neutral undertone, which affects how it pairs with trim, flooring, and adjacent wall colors. Understanding a color's undertone is key to avoiding combinations that clash — it often matters more than the surface color itself. Tempered Sage (#E1DBBB) by Valspar is a very light yellow paint color with a balanced saturation that feels natural and approachable. It delivers an airy, open feeling that maximizes the sense of space in any room. On the temperature spectrum this shade carries a cool cast, lending calm and collected elegance. In its RGB breakdown, red is the dominant channel, which gives it a subtle rosy warmth even under different lighting conditions. With a Light Reflectance Value of 85, it reflects the vast majority of light, helping smaller rooms feel more spacious. A barely-there butter or cream shade like this is universally flattering in kitchens, hallways, and any room that needs a lift. An eggshell or matte finish works well at this lightness, hiding minor wall imperfections while still being easy to wipe clean. For color coordination, Tempered Sage pairs beautifully with blue tones for bold complementary contrast, or with neighboring green and orange hues for a harmonious, flowing palette. Its neutral undertone means trim and ceiling whites should lean neutral to avoid a jarring clash. If Valspar is unavailable in your area, close cross-brand alternatives exist from Dunn-Edwards, Sherwin-Williams, Vista Paint and others. In terms of mood and atmosphere, Tempered Sage brings a crisp, spa-like tranquility that opens up a room and calms the mind. Designers often reach for shades like this when the goal is to shape how a room feels, not just how it looks. This shade is a natural fit for cottage-core, transitional, and Scandinavian-inspired interiors. As part of the Valspar palette, Tempered Sage benefits from a curated selection of coordinating colors that the brand recommends for trim, accent, and ceiling pairings. High-LRV colors like Tempered Sage are forgiving in most lighting conditions, but they can pick up reflected color from adjacent walls, flooring, or large furniture pieces, so evaluate samples in situ. Very light shades can sometimes read as stark white on small swatches — viewing a larger area in your intended space reveals the true character of the color. Pair this shade with natural linen, light oak, rattan, and marble for a fresh, layered look, or contrast it with dark walnut and wrought iron for more definition. You can order Tempered Sage (6006-5A) directly from Valspar or through major paint retailers, and we recommend purchasing a peel-and-stick sample to preview it on your wall before buying gallons.