North-facing room
#C7CCCFIn north light the sage green looks cooler and a little grayer, so the pale gray stays crisp beside it. Expect the room to feel quiet and steady through the day.
19th-century French painting · art-to-room palette
Boats on the Beach at Étretat Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette comes from Claude Monet's 1885 oil painting "Boats on the Beach at Étretat," held by The Art Institute of Chicago. It is built on soft sage green, deep umber, and slate blue, with a pale gray and a mustard accent, so it suits rooms that want a calm, earthy base with a few stronger notes.
Quick answer
Use the soft sage green on the main walls, the pale gray on the ceiling or on walls that need more light, and the deep slate blue on one accent wall or piece of furniture. Keep the umber for wood and the mustard for textiles such as cushions or a throw.
- Artist
- Claude Monet
- Date
- 1885
- Movement
- 19th-century French painting
- Collection
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 75
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
warm umber brown
deep slate blue
pale neutral gray
warm clay red
muted mustard gold
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#A4B9A8 |
|
45 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
warm umber brown#63544B |
|
10 | Wood and frames |
deep slate blue#3F4855 |
|
6 | One bold piece |
pale neutral gray#DEE1DF |
|
75 | Main walls |
warm clay red#A3654E |
|
18 | Small accents, art, accessories |
muted mustard gold#AF9D4A |
|
34 | One small textile |
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 neutral gray 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
#E5E2D8In strong south light the sage green reads brighter and more open, and the deep slate blue keeps its depth. The pale gray can look almost white, which helps balance the darker accents.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#C0B29DUnder warm evening bulbs the sage green tends to shift toward a softer, warmer tone, and the umber wood looks richer. The mustard textiles will look more golden, which suits a cozy evening room.
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 warm umber brown and the rug border takes muted mustard gold in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
pale neutral gray
soft sage green
deep slate blue
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 works best in a small room?
Use the pale neutral gray on the walls or ceiling, since it has a light reflectance value of 75 and bounces light well. Add the soft sage green as a single wall or as trim to keep the room from feeling flat.
Can I paint a whole room in the deep slate blue?
The slate blue has a light reflectance value of 6, which is very dark, so a full room will feel enclosed. It works better on one accent wall, a cabinet, or a door, where it can anchor the sage and gray around it.
What should I pair the mustard color with?
The muted mustard gold is best used in small amounts, such as cushions, a throw, or artwork. Pair it with the umber wood and the soft sage green so the warm and cool tones stay in balance.
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.