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

Water Lily Pond Color Palette & Paint Colors

Six colors measured from Water Lily Pond by Claude Monet, with their share of the canvas, light reflectance, a room scheme and how the wall color shifts in north, south and evening light.

Quick answer

Put Light Green on most walls, use Warm Yellow for the bed, sofa or curtains, and keep Soft Green to one bold piece. Shadow Umber suits floors, wood and frames, and Warm Umber works best in a single textile.

Artist: Claude Monet
Date: 1900
Movement: 19th-century French painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 57

Water Lily Pond by Claude Monet — Claude Monet, *Water Lily Pond*, 1900. 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.

Shadow Umber

#5A4B44 · 35% · LRV 8

Deep Green

#5F6A58 · 31.7% · LRV 13

Light Green

#C9C9AE · 12.9% · LRV 57

Soft Green

#6D7B56 · 11.5% · LRV 18

Warm Umber

#966960 · 6.1% · LRV 17

Warm Yellow

#A8A656 · 2.7% · LRV 36

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.

Water Lily Pond reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Shadow Umber is strongest — Shadow Umber

Detail of the painting where Deep Green is strongest — Deep Green

Detail of the painting where Light Green is strongest — Light Green

Detail of the painting where Soft Green is strongest — Soft Green

Detail of the painting where Warm Umber is strongest — Warm Umber

Detail of the painting where Warm Yellow is strongest — Warm Yellow

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
Shadow Umber `#5A4B44`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7510 Chateau Brown Near-identical Behr N170-6 Natural Bark Very close Valspar 2011-10 Cabin Plank Very close Farrow & Ball No. 36 Mahogany Close	8	Wood and frames
Deep Green `#5F6A58`	Behr 790D-6 Dusty Mountain Near-identical Valspar 5007-4C Boughs of Pine Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6194 Basil Very close Farrow & Ball No. 298 Bancha Similar	13	Small accents, art, accessories
Light Green `#C9C9AE`	Sherwin-Williams SW 29 Acanthus Very close Valspar 6005-3A Olive White Very close Behr PPU9-18 Cilantro Cream Very close Farrow & Ball No. 32 Cooking Apple Green Very close	57	Main walls
Soft Green `#6D7B56`	Behr MQ6-47 Terrain Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6439 Greenfield Close Valspar 5007-6C Mixedwood Leaf Close Farrow & Ball No. 34 Calke Green Similar	18	One bold piece
Warm Umber `#966960`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6053 Reddened Earth Very close Valspar 2005-7A Rio Grande Mud Very close Behr 210F-6 Chutney Brown Close Farrow & Ball No. 42 Picture Gallery Red Similar	17	One small textile
Warm Yellow `#A8A656`	Valspar 6007-6B Gilded Pesto Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6711 Parakeet Close Behr M330-6 Keemun Close Farrow & Ball No. 251 Churlish Green Similar	36	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 light green 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#B9BDB0

Cool, even daylight pulls colors toward grey. Warm wall tones keep a north-facing room from feeling cold.

South-facing room#D5CFB2

Strong warm sun pushes light colors toward cream by midday. If it reads too yellow, step down to a cooler version.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#B3A581

Under warm 2700K bulbs colors turn honey-toned and dark colors read almost black. Matte finishes keep the look soft.

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 Shadow Umber and the rug border takes Warm Umber in every combination.

Mood board

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

Light Green

Warm Yellow

Soft Green

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

More palettes like this

Fan Mount: The Ballet Edgar Degas, 1879

Oil Sketch for "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884" Georges Seurat, 1884

Beggar with a Duffle Coat (Philosopher) Édouard Manet, 1865–67

FAQ

What colors are in Water Lily Pond?

Measured from the image, the painting's six main colors are Shadow Umber (#5A4B44, 35% of the canvas), Deep Green (#5F6A58, 31.7% of the canvas), Light Green (#C9C9AE, 12.9% of the canvas), Soft Green (#6D7B56, 11.5% of the canvas), Warm Umber (#966960, 6.1% of the canvas), Warm Yellow (#A8A656, 2.7% of the canvas).

Does this palette work in a small room?

Use it with care. The lightest wall color in this painting has an LRV of about 57, so in a small room pair it with plenty of daylight or a lighter white on the ceiling.

Can I use this image on my own mood board?

The Art Institute of Chicago releases this image as public domain (cc0), so it can be reused freely.

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

Water Lily Pond Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Claude Monet's Water Lily Pond, painted between 1917 and 1919 and held by The Art Institute of Chicago. It is built on soft greens, straw yellows, and warm browns, with one small note of clay red, so it suits rooms that need a calm, earthy base.

Quick answer

Use the pale green #B8D0BD on the walls and the soft straw #BFBA82 on a main surface or large piece. Put the dusky olive on an accent such as a door or cabinet, the warm umber on wood tones, and the muted clay on cushions or throws.

Artist: Claude Monet
Date: 1917–19
Movement: 20th-century French painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 59

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.

Muted olive sage

#969674 · 40.2% · LRV 30

Dusky olive green

#807B4E · 31.5% · LRV 19

Warm umber brown

#8A7148 · 11.9% · LRV 18

Soft yellow khaki

#BFBA82 · 7.6% · LRV 48

Pale celadon green

#B8D0BD · 6.7% · LRV 59

Muted terracotta clay

#CB977B · 2.1% · LRV 36

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 Muted olive sage is strongest — Muted olive sage

Detail of the painting where Dusky olive green is strongest — Dusky olive green

Detail of the painting where Warm umber brown is strongest — Warm umber brown

Detail of the painting where Soft yellow khaki is strongest — Soft yellow khaki

Detail of the painting where Pale celadon green is strongest — Pale celadon green

Detail of the painting where Muted terracotta clay is strongest — Muted terracotta clay

Closest paint colors

Painting color	Closest paints	LRV	Use it for
Muted olive sage `#969674`	Behr 730D-5 Village Square Very close Valspar 6003-4B Prairie Brush Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 7726 Lemon Verbena Close Farrow & Ball No. 19 Lichen Close	30	Small accents, art, accessories
Dusky olive green `#807B4E`	Valspar 6006-6C Olivita Very close Behr HDC-AC-16A Fern Grove Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 7729 Edamame Close Farrow & Ball No. 298 Bancha Similar	19	One bold piece
Warm umber brown `#8A7148`	Behr 290F-6 Warm Earth Very close Valspar 3005-9A Magic Lamp Close Sherwin-Williams SW 7700 Olde World Gold Close	18	Wood and frames
Soft yellow khaki `#BFBA82`	Behr S320-4 Oat Field Very close Valspar 6005-5C Herb Cornucopia Very close Farrow & Ball No. 251 Churlish Green Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 9037 Baby Bok Choy Very close	48	Bed, sofa, curtains
Pale celadon green `#B8D0BD`	Behr N410-3 Riverdale Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6744 Reclining Green Close Valspar 5004-5B Tranquil Bay Close Farrow & Ball No. 236 Teresa's Green Close	59	Main walls
Muted terracotta clay `#CB977B`	Sherwin-Williams SW 39 Portrait Tone Very close Valspar 2005-7C Desert Carnation Very close Behr MQ1-27 Dazzle And Delight Close Farrow & Ball No. 28 Dead Salmon Similar	36	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 celadon green 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#AEC1B9

In north light the pale green wall will look cooler and a little grayer than the swatch. Pair it with warm wood and the straw tone to keep the room from feeling flat.

South-facing room#C8D5BD

Strong south light brings out the wall's brightness, since its reflectance is high enough to bounce a lot of light. The green may look paler and softer, so check a large sample at midday before committing.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#AAA88A

Under warm evening bulbs the yellow in the straw and umber tones moves forward, and the green wall can look more muted. The clay and umber accents will feel richer and more golden after dark.

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 Warm umber brown and the rug border takes Muted terracotta clay in every combination.

Mood board

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

Pale celadon green

Soft yellow khaki

Dusky olive green

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

Coastal Exterior Paint Schemes House exterior · Coastal

Sage Green House Exterior Colors: Four Complete Schemes House exterior · Sage green

Sage Green Paint for a Bedroom: Three Shades From Paintings Sage green · Bedroom

More palettes like this

Venice, Palazzo Dario Claude Monet, 1908

Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare Claude Monet, 1877

Water Lily Pond Claude Monet, 1900

FAQ

Which color should cover the most wall space?

Use the pale green #B8D0BD on the walls, since it is the lightest and most reflective color in the palette. The soft straw #BFBA82 works well as a secondary surface or a large piece of furniture.

Can the dark olive work as trim or a door?

Yes. The dusky olive #807B4E has a LRV of 19, so it reads as a deep accent. Use it on a door, cabinet, or trim to give contrast without adding a new hue.

Does this palette pair with cool gray?

It can, but the warm yellow and umber tones will feel out of place next to cool gray. Choose warm neutrals like cream or light wood to keep the scheme consistent.