North-facing room
#C0D0D4In north light the pale blue wall will look cooler and a little grayer. Its light value still helps a dim room feel open, so it works well where sunlight is limited.
19th-century American painting · art-to-room palette
The Annunciation Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette comes from George Hitchcock's 1887 painting The Annunciation, and it is built on olive, khaki, and sand tones with one pale, cool blue. It suits rooms that need a calm, earthy base with a single light note to open things up.
Quick answer
Use the pale blue-gray #D5E7E6 on the walls so the room stays light. Use the sand beige #B8A480 for large pieces like a sofa or rug, the khaki #817A60 for curtains or upholstery, and the dark bronze #61593A for wood tones. Save the deep green-black #383D1E for one door or built-in, with the near-black #2A2814 for trim or small details.
- Artist
- George Hitchcock
- Date
- 1887
- 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.
Deep olive black
Warm khaki taupe
Deep warm umber
Forest shadow green
Pale cool mist
Soft 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Deep olive black#2A2814 |
|
2 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Warm khaki taupe#817A60 |
|
19 | One small textile |
Deep warm umber#61593A |
|
10 | Wood and frames |
Forest shadow green#383D1E |
|
4 | One bold piece |
Pale cool mist#D5E7E6 |
|
77 | Main walls |
Soft sand beige#B8A480 |
|
38 | 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 cool mist 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
#DEE7DDIn strong south light the wall will look brighter and softer, with the blue tone less noticeable. The high light value bounces light around the room, which can make it feel larger.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#BAB5A1Under warm evening bulbs the blue will shift toward a softer gray-green. The sand, khaki, and umber tones will look richer and more golden, so the room feels cozy.
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 warm umber and the rug border takes Warm khaki taupe in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Pale cool mist
Soft sand beige
Forest shadow green
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
Should I paint every wall in the pale blue-gray?
You can, but the room may feel plain. Many rooms look balanced when the pale shade covers the main walls and the darker tones appear in furniture, textiles, and one accent piece.
What works in a small or dim room?
Use the pale blue-gray #D5E7E6 on the walls and keep the darkest colors to small areas. Add the sand beige #B8A480 in soft furnishings so the room does not feel cold.
Where should I use the deep green-black?
Use #383D1E on one focal point, such as a front door, a cabinet, or a built-in shelf. Keep it to a small share of the room so it reads as an accent rather than a main color.
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.