North-facing room
#D5CCB5North light is cool and dim, so the pale cream can look flat or slightly grey. Choose a sample in the upper part of the palette and check it at several times of day before you commit.
19th-century American painting · art-to-room palette
Nantasket Beach Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette comes from Emil Carlsen's 1876 oil painting "Nantasket Beach," held by the Art Institute of Chicago. It pairs soft sage and spruce greens with warm sand, cream, and walnut tones, which suits rooms that need a calm, earthy base.
Quick answer
Use the pale cream #F6E1B7 on the main walls and the light sand #DEBA8E on large surfaces or trim. Bring in the sage #96AA96 through textiles, the walnut #6E533B through wood pieces, and the warm ochre #AF9670 as a small accent.
- Artist
- Emil Carlsen
- Date
- 1876
- Movement
- 19th-century American painting
- Collection
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 77
The 6 colors in this painting
Measured from the image and ordered by how much of the canvas they cover. LRV is how much light a color reflects, from 0 for black to 100 for white.
Soft sage green
Muted spruce green
Deep walnut brown
Pale cream yellow
Warm ochre tan
Light sand beige
Where each color lives in the painting
Left, every pixel of the canvas snapped to its nearest palette color. Right, the detail where each color is strongest.
Closest paint colors
The nearest color from each brand. “Near-identical” and “Very close” are hard to tell apart on a wall; with “Similar”, compare a sample with the painting. Brands with nothing close are left out.
| Painting color | Closest paints | LRV | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
Soft sage green#96AA96 |
|
37 | One small textile |
Muted spruce green#77958C |
|
27 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Deep walnut brown#6E533B |
|
10 | Wood and frames |
Pale cream yellow#F6E1B7 |
|
77 | Main walls |
Warm ochre tan#AF9670 |
|
32 | One bold piece |
Light sand beige#DEBA8E |
|
53 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Paint names belong to their brands. Matches are measured from screen colors and are approximate; Light & Pigment is not affiliated with any paint brand.
How pale cream yellow looks in your light
The wall color shifted for the light it will live in. Check the version closest to your room before buying a sample.
South-facing room
#F8E2B9Strong south light brings out the brightness of the cream, and it can look nearly white at midday. The sand and ochre tones hold their warmth well in this light.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#CDB286Warm evening bulbs push the yellow undertones forward, so the cream turns golden and the sage reads softer. The walnut and ochre become richer, which makes this palette especially comfortable for lamp-lit rooms.
Try the palette in a room
Pick which painting color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and light follow your choices.
Wood takes Deep walnut brown and the rug border takes Soft sage green in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Pale cream yellow
Light sand beige
Warm ochre tan
Save this palette
A card with the painting, all 6 colors and a room scheme. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Guides that use colors from this painting
More palettes like this
FAQ
Which color should I use on the walls?
The pale cream #F6E1B7 has a light reflectance value of 77, so it bounces light well and suits main walls in most rooms. The light sand #DEBA8E, with a value of 53, works well if you want a little more warmth and depth.
How do I add the darker colors without making the room feel heavy?
Keep the deep walnut #6E533B to wood furniture, frames, or a single large piece. Use the sage #96AA96 on textiles such as curtains or upholstery, which spreads the darker tones across the room without covering walls in them.
Can I use this palette in a room with little natural light?
Yes, but test your samples first. The cream and sand will look warmer under lamps, and the greens can look greyer in dim daylight. Keep the walnut to small areas so the room does not feel closed in.
Image: The Art Institute of Chicago, Public domain (CC0). Palette, posterized image, details and room views generated by Light & Pigment from that image. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.