20th-century French painting · art-to-room palette

Vétheuil Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Claude Monet's 1901 painting Vétheuil, held at The Art Institute of Chicago. Its dusty violet greys and warm creams suit living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms where a quiet, softly colored backdrop is wanted.

Quick answer

Use the soft warm cream on the walls and the dusty violet grey on one larger feature wall or a sofa. Keep the muted ochre for small accents such as a lamp base or cushion, and use the olive mustard gold on a textile like a throw or curtain.

Artist: Claude Monet
Date: 1901
Movement: 20th-century French painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 63

Vétheuil by Claude Monet — Claude Monet, *Vétheuil*, 1901. 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.

Dusty lilac grey

#B2A3B1 · 45.5% · LRV 39

Muted ochre brown

#A0905E · 21% · LRV 28

Soft warm cream

#E7CCA1 · 17.4% · LRV 63

Warm clay rose

#C98C74 · 7.4% · LRV 32

Greyed lavender mauve

#A69AB0 · 6.7% · LRV 34

Olive mustard gold

#B2A052 · 2.1% · LRV 35

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.

Vétheuil reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Dusty lilac grey is strongest — Dusty lilac grey

Detail of the painting where Muted ochre brown is strongest — Muted ochre brown

Detail of the painting where Soft warm cream is strongest — Soft warm cream

Detail of the painting where Warm clay rose is strongest — Warm clay rose

Detail of the painting where Greyed lavender mauve is strongest — Greyed lavender mauve

Detail of the painting where Olive mustard gold is strongest — Olive mustard gold

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
Dusty lilac grey `#B2A3B1`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6556 Obi Lilac Very close Valspar 4001-4A Native Lilac Very close Behr 110F-4 Heirloom Orchid Very close Farrow & Ball No. 246 Cinder Rose Similar	39	Bed, sofa, curtains
Muted ochre brown `#A0905E`	Behr PPU8-05 Eco Green Close Valspar 6007-4B Rolling Prairie Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6417 Tupelo Tree Close	28	One bold piece
Soft warm cream `#E7CCA1`	Valspar 3005-6B Sweet Treats Near-identical Sherwin-Williams SW 7691 Biltmore Buff Very close Behr PPU7-19 Crepe Very close Farrow & Ball No. 37 Hay Close	63	Main walls
Warm clay rose `#C98C74`	Sherwin-Williams SW 9009 Subdued Sienna Very close Valspar 2003-5C Terra Earth Very close Behr MQ4-39 Cabana Melon Close Farrow & Ball No. 64 Red Earth Similar	32	Small accents, art, accessories
Greyed lavender mauve `#A69AB0`	Behr PPU16-12 Charm Very close Valspar 4001-4A Native Lilac Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6556 Obi Lilac Close	34	Small accents, art, accessories
Olive mustard gold `#B2A052`	Valspar 6008-6C City Chartreuse Very close Behr 330F-5 Golden Bear Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6416 Sassy Green Close Farrow & Ball No. 66 India Yellow Similar	35	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 soft warm cream 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#CCBEA7

North light is cool and even, so the warm cream wall can look a little greyer than the swatch. The yellow undertone helps it stay soft and inviting.

South-facing room#ECD2A8

Strong south light brings out the warmth in the cream and can make it look pale or bright. The violet grey will look lighter and more open in this light.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#C5A67A

Warm evening bulbs push the yellow undertone forward, so the cream glows and the violet grey looks softer and slightly deeper. The olive gold will look richer.

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 Olive mustard gold in every combination.

Mood board

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

Soft warm cream

Dusty lilac grey

Muted ochre brown

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

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

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

Bedroom Yellow Color: Shades Measured From Paintings Yellow · Bedroom

More palettes like this

Cliff Walk at Pourville Claude Monet, 1882

Woman before an Aquarium Henri Matisse, 1921–23

The Petite Creuse River Claude Monet, 1889

FAQ

Which color should I use for the whole room?

Use the soft warm cream on the walls. Its light reflectance value is 63, so it reads light and bounces light around the room. Keep the darker tones for furniture, textiles and accents.

Can I paint a small room in the violet grey?

You can, but the dusty violet grey has a light reflectance value of 39, so it reads mid-tone and can feel closed in a small or dark room. Try it on one wall first and check it at different times of day.

How do I keep the violet and yellow tones from clashing?

Let the cream wall carry the warm yellow tones and use the violet grey in fewer, larger areas. Repeat the olive gold once or twice, such as on a cushion, so the eye moves across the room.

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.

20th-century French painting · art-to-room palette

Vétheuil Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Claude Monet's 1901 painting Vétheuil, held at The Art Institute of Chicago. Its soft pinks, creamy white and peachy warm tones suit bedrooms, dining rooms and sitting rooms that need a gentle, airy feel.

Quick answer

Use the warm cream #ECDEC8 on most walls as the base. Put the soft rose blush #DBBFC7 on one main wall or in large pieces, use the light apricot #ECB397 in textiles, and keep the muted taupe #A28D91 for trim, a door or a single accent piece.

Artist: Claude Monet
Date: 1901
Movement: 20th-century French painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 74

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 rose blush

#DBBFC7 · 23.6% · LRV 56

warm cream ivory

#ECDEC8 · 18.6% · LRV 74

pale lilac mauve

#CDB0C3 · 17.7% · LRV 48

dusty rose clay

#CE9A9C · 17.6% · LRV 39

light apricot peach

#ECB397 · 13.3% · LRV 52

muted mauve taupe

#A28D91 · 9.2% · LRV 29

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.

Detail of the painting where soft rose blush is strongest — soft rose blush

Detail of the painting where warm cream ivory is strongest — warm cream ivory

Detail of the painting where pale lilac mauve is strongest — pale lilac mauve

Detail of the painting where dusty rose clay is strongest — dusty rose clay

Detail of the painting where light apricot peach is strongest — light apricot peach

Detail of the painting where muted mauve taupe is strongest — muted mauve taupe

Closest paint colors

Painting color	Closest paints	LRV	Use it for
soft rose blush `#DBBFC7`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6296 Fading Rose Very close Valspar 1006-6B Fragrant Orchid Very close Behr S170-2 Rosewater Close Farrow & Ball No. 278 Nancy's Blushes Similar	56	Bed, sofa, curtains
warm cream ivory `#ECDEC8`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6126 Navajo White Near-identical Behr QE-17 Ivory Stone Near-identical Valspar 7002-21 Cameo White Very close Farrow & Ball No. 1 Lime White Very close	74	Main walls
pale lilac mauve `#CDB0C3`	Behr 130E-3 Rosy Tan Very close Valspar 1004-6A Pleasant Violet Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6289 Delightful Close Farrow & Ball No. 246 Cinder Rose Similar	48	Small accents, art, accessories
dusty rose clay `#CE9A9C`	Behr S180-4 Shiny Kettle Near-identical Valspar 1008-6A Rosetti Pink Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6304 Pressed Flower Close Farrow & Ball No. 246 Cinder Rose Close	39	Small accents, art, accessories
light apricot peach `#ECB397`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6625 Certain Peach Very close Valspar 2004-6A Sandbar Close Behr M220-4 Trick Or Treat Close Farrow & Ball No. 231 Setting Plaster Similar	52	One small textile
muted mauve taupe `#A28D91`	Valspar 1004-7C Mellow Mauve Very close Behr PPU17-15 Cameo Rose Close Sherwin-Williams SW 9158 Coquina Close Farrow & Ball No. 295 Sulking Room Pink Similar	29	One bold piece

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 warm cream ivory 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#D0CAC0

In north light, the cream wall #ECDEC8 looks softer and a little cooler, so it stays calm without turning gray. Its warm yellow undertone helps keep the room from feeling flat.

South-facing room#F0E0C6

In strong south light, the cream wall #ECDEC8 can look bright and warm, and it may wash out the pink tones nearby. Test a sample on the wall at midday before you commit.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#C7B090

Under warm evening bulbs, the cream wall #ECDEC8 takes on a golden glow and the pinks in the room look richer. Keep lamps warm so the palette stays balanced.

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 light apricot peach in every combination.

Mood board

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

warm cream ivory

soft rose blush

muted mauve taupe

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

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

Pink Color Combinations for House Exterior Painting House exterior · Pink

Blush Pink Bedroom Paint: Three Dusty Rose Shades to Compare Blush pink · Bedroom

Pink Bathroom Paint Colors Measured From Paintings Pink · Bathroom

Cottage Color Scheme: Six Colors Measured From Paintings Cottage style

Blush Paint: Shades of Pink for Interior Walls Blush pink

East Facing Room Paint Color: Soft Neutrals for Morning and Afternoon East-facing

More palettes like this

Branch of the Seine near Giverny (Mist) Claude Monet, 1897

The Customs House at Varengeville Claude Monet, 1897

Apples and Grapes Claude Monet, 1880

FAQ

Which color should I use for the largest area of a room?

Use the warm cream #ECDEC8 for the largest area. It has an LRV of 74, so it reads light and bounces light around the room. The blush #DBBFC7 works well as a second, larger color on one wall.

Can I use these colors in a room with little natural light?

Yes, but keep the walls to the lighter tones such as the cream #ECDEC8 and the blush #DBBFC7. Save the darker mauve taupe #A28D91, which has an LRV of 29, for small accents so the room does not close in.

What should I pair with the apricot and the mauve?

Pair the light apricot #ECB397 with the cream walls for textiles such as cushions, curtains or a throw. Use the muted mauve taupe #A28D91 for a door, trim or one piece of furniture to anchor the scheme.