19th-century French painting · art-to-room palette

Houses of Parliament, London Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is built from soft, cool blues with one pale blush-white neutral. It suits rooms that need calm light and a quiet, airy feel, such as bedrooms, reading corners and north-facing living rooms.

Quick answer

Use the pale blush-white #DED2DA on the main walls, and the light blue #AFC4D5 on a second wall or cabinetry. Keep the deeper blue #7BA2B5 for one accent wall or a bookcase, and bring in the teal #76A8C0 through textiles such as curtains, cushions or a throw.

Artist: Claude Monet
Date: 1900–1
Movement: 19th-century French painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 67

Houses of Parliament, London by Claude Monet — Claude Monet, *Houses of Parliament, London*, 1900–1. The Art Institute of Chicago, open access. The bar shows each color's measured share of the canvas.

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 morning blue

#AFC4D5 · 30% · LRV 53

Muted harbor blue

#7BA2B5 · 22% · LRV 33

Pale mist blue

#9AB1C2 · 18.5% · LRV 42

Soft blush white

#DED2DA · 12.1% · LRV 67

Muted teal blue

#76A8C0 · 10.5% · LRV 36

Smoky slate grey

#7D8A8B · 7% · LRV 24

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.

Houses of Parliament, London reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Soft morning blue is strongest — Soft morning blue

Detail of the painting where Muted harbor blue is strongest — Muted harbor blue

Detail of the painting where Pale mist blue is strongest — Pale mist blue

Detail of the painting where Soft blush white is strongest — Soft blush white

Detail of the painting where Muted teal blue is strongest — Muted teal blue

Detail of the painting where Smoky slate grey is strongest — Smoky slate grey

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 morning blue `#AFC4D5`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6527 Blissful Blue Very close Valspar 4005-5B Sailboat Very close Behr N540-3 Vanity Very close Farrow & Ball No. 89 Lulworth Blue Close	53	Bed, sofa, curtains
Muted harbor blue `#7BA2B5`	Behr UL230-17 Blue Cascade Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 9070 Baby Blue Eyes Very close Valspar 4008-5C Summerhouse Blue Very close Farrow & Ball No. 86 Stone Blue Close	33	One bold piece
Pale mist blue `#9AB1C2`	Behr HDC-CT-24 Rainy Sidewalk Very close Farrow & Ball No. 89 Lulworth Blue Very close Valspar 4005-5C Coventry Blue Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 9146 Faded Flaxflower Very close	42	Small accents, art, accessories
Soft blush white `#DED2DA`	Behr 110E-2 Brook Trout Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6281 Wallflower Very close Valspar 4001-3B Brushed Lavender Very close Farrow & Ball No. 270 Calluna Close	67	Main walls
Muted teal blue `#76A8C0`	Valspar 5001-7C Tidal Basin Very close Behr 560F-5 Bleached Denim Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6507 Resolute Blue Close Farrow & Ball No. 280 St Giles Blue Similar	36	One small textile
Smoky slate grey `#7D8A8B`	Behr PPU12-16 Juniper Ash Close Valspar 4007-2A Sharkfin Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6221 Moody Blue Close Farrow & Ball No. 299 De Nimes Similar	24	Small accents, art, accessories

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 soft blush white 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.

North-facing room#C7C2CC

In north light, the blush-white wall can look cooler and slightly grey. The blues will look softer and more restful, so this is a good setting for the full scheme.

South-facing room#E5D6D4

Strong south light brightens the blush-white wall and makes the blues look clearer. The deeper blue may feel more vivid, so use it on one wall rather than several.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#C0AA9A

Under warm evening bulbs, the blues shift toward grey and the blush-white warms to a softer cream. Add a little more light in the room so the blues do not turn dull.

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.

Walls

Bed, sofa, island

Bold piece

Wood takes a warm mid-brown and the rug border takes Muted teal blue in every combination.

Mood board

Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.

Soft blush white

Soft morning blue

Muted harbor blue

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Houses of Parliament, London

Save this palette

A card with the painting, all 6 colors and a room scheme. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.

Save to Pinterest Download card

Guides that use colors from this painting

Cool Kitchen Color Schemes Cool · Kitchen

Lavender Color for a Bedroom: Three Shades and What to Pair with Them Lavender · Bedroom

Gray and White House: Exterior Colors for Walls, Trim and Door House exterior · Grey

Modern Bedroom Colors and Color Combinations Modern style

More palettes like this

Male Nude Edgar Degas, 1856

The Customs House at Varengeville Claude Monet, 1897

Landscape with a Cave Théodore Caruelle d'Aligny

FAQ

Which color works best as the main wall color?

The blush-white #DED2DA is the wall color in this palette. Its light value of 67 bounces light well, so it suits rooms that get little daylight.

Can I use only the blues and skip the pale wall?

You can, but the room may feel cool and heavy. The palette works best when the pale blush-white balances the blues and keeps the space open.

How do I use the darker slate grey in this scheme?

The smoky slate grey #7D8A8B has a light value of 24, so it reads quite dark. Use it in small amounts, such as a door, trim or a single piece of furniture, to add depth without making the room 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.