North-facing room
#C0BEA1North light is cool, so the warm yellow undertone of the main stone shade can look slightly greyer. Its light reflectance of 52 still keeps the room bright. Test a large sample before committing.
19th-century French painting · art-to-room palette
Ballet Dancers Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette is built from warm stone neutrals, olive and khaki tones, and a deep green, all taken from Toulouse-Lautrec's 1885–86 painting "Ballet Dancers." It suits rooms that want a calm, earthy base with one or two richer notes.
Quick answer
Use the main stone shade on most of the walls, the pale cream on one wall, and the deep green on a single accent surface such as a door, cabinet, or built-in. Use the yellow straw shade in textiles like cushions or a throw.
- Date
- 1885–86
- Movement
- 19th-century French painting
- Collection
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 60
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.
Warm Pale Stone
Soft Khaki Taupe
Deep Sea Green
Pale Wheat Cream
Mossy Olive Green
Bright Straw Yellow
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Warm Pale Stone#C6BFA4 |
|
52 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Soft Khaki Taupe#AFAA8B |
|
40 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Deep Sea Green#517C60 |
|
17 | One bold piece |
Pale Wheat Cream#D5CC98 |
|
60 | Main walls |
Mossy Olive Green#708850 |
|
22 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Bright Straw Yellow#D8CD69 |
|
59 | 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 wheat 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.
South-facing room
#DED2A1Strong south light brings out the warmth in the pale cream wall, which has a reflectance of 60. Expect the room to feel bright and sunny, and check the sample at midday.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#BAA675Warm evening bulbs push the yellow undertones forward in every shade here. The stone and cream will look richer and more golden, and the deep green will look darker and more muted.
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 a warm mid-brown and the rug border takes Bright Straw Yellow in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Pale Wheat Cream
Warm Pale Stone
Deep Sea 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
Which color should I use on the largest wall surfaces?
Use the warm pale stone for most of the walls. Its light reflectance of 52 reads light without feeling stark, and it works as a neutral base for the other shades.
Can I use the deep green in a small room?
Yes, but keep it to one accent surface, such as a door or a cabinet. Its reflectance of 17 is quite dark, so using it on all four walls of a small room can make the space feel closed in.
How should I use the bright straw yellow?
Use it in textiles, such as cushions, a throw, or curtains, rather than on walls. It has a reflectance of 59, but its saturation makes it work best in small amounts next to the stone and green.
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.