Paint colors for your home, inside and out
19th-century French painting · art-to-room palette
This palette is drawn from Camille Corot's 1865 oil on wood, Bacchante by the Sea, held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its warm yellows, earthy browns and soft creams suit rooms that should feel quiet, grounded and lived-in.
Quick answer
Use the pale cream #F6DDB9 on the main walls, and the sandy #CCB99B on a second wall or large built-in. Put the walnut #9F8469 on wood trim, doors or a table, and the dark umber #48392C in textiles such as a rug or cushions. Keep the deep olive #6D6952 for one accent, like a chair or a painted cabinet.
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.
Left, every pixel of the canvas snapped to its nearest palette color. Right, the detail where each color is strongest.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Deep Warm Olive#6D6952 |
|
14 | One bold piece |
Dark Red Umber#48392C |
|
5 | One small textile |
Warm Taupe Gray#A79D8D |
|
34 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Soft Warm Sand#CCB99B |
|
50 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Warm Walnut Tan#9F8469 |
|
25 | Wood and frames |
Pale Warm Cream#F6DDB9 |
|
75 | Main walls |
Paint names belong to their brands. Matches are measured from screen colors and are approximate; Light & Pigment is not affiliated with any paint brand.
The wall color shifted for the light it will live in. Check the version closest to your room before buying a sample.
#D5C9B6North light is cooler and softer, so the cream #F6DDB9 can read a little flatter and grayer. Its LRV of 75 keeps the room bright, but the warm yellow undertone may look subdued. Pair it with warm wood tones to keep it from feeling cold.
#F8DFBAStrong south light brings out the yellow undertones and makes the cream look warm and golden. The LRV of 75 will bounce a lot of light, so the room may feel bright by midday. The darker #48392C and #6D6952 will hold their depth in this light.
#CDB087Warm evening bulbs push the yellow undertones forward, so the walls will look more amber and cozy. The sandy #CCB99B and walnut #9F8469 will feel especially warm. Keep the darkest shades to textiles and small accents so the room does not turn murky.
Pick which painting color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and light follow your choices.
Wood takes Warm Walnut Tan and the rug border takes Dark Red Umber in every combination.
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
A card with the painting, all 6 colors and a room scheme. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Use the pale cream #F6DDB9, which has an LRV of 75 and works as the lightest, brightest base. Sandy #CCB99B, with an LRV of 50, can cover a second wall for more depth. Test both in your own room before committing.
Use the dark umber #48392C, with an LRV of 4, only in textiles, such as a rug, curtains or cushions. Keep it away from large wall areas. Balance it with the pale cream so the room still feels open.
Yes. The walnut #9F8469, with an LRV of 25, suits wood trim, doors and tables because it sits between the wall tones and the dark textile shade. It adds warmth without competing with the walls.
Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 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.
