Mustard Paint: Shades of Golden Yellow for Interior Walls
Mustard paint ranges from a bright golden yellow to a deep, brown-leaning olive. These six shades were measured from paintings in museum collections, and each one has an LRV and closest paint matches. Three companion colors from the same paintings help with trim, doors and accents.
Quick answer
Use the golden #D7A159 (LRV 41) on walls in most rooms, and save the deeper shades at LRV 18 to 20 for one wall, wood tones or a dining room. Pair any of them with the warm cream #EBE0CE on trim and ceilings.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Shades of mustard
#D7A159LRV 41
Warm Mustard Gold
The lightest mustard here at LRV 41, with a warm yellow undertone, so it suits walls in a living room or hallway. It comes from "The Crucifixion" by Stefano da Verona, ca. 1400.
At LRV 32 with a warm red-orange undertone, it reads closer to amber. Use it on curtains, a headboard wall or a room with warm evening light. It comes from "Saint Andrew" by Simone Martini, ca. 1326.
A mid-tone at LRV 28 with a strong red-orange undertone. It works best on a bold piece such as an armchair, a door or a single accent wall. It comes from "Tobias and the Angel" by Davide Ghirlandaio, ca. 1479.
At LRV 20 it is a quiet, brown-leaning mustard for a study, a dining room or built-in shelving. Its warm yellow undertone keeps it from feeling flat. It comes from "Madame Théodore Gobillard (Yves Morisot, 1838–1893)" by Edgar Degas, 1869.
Sherwin-Williams SW 2824 Renwick Golden Oak
Very close
Valspar 3004-7A Praline Cake
Very close
#976F2CLRV 18
Deep Mustard Brown
A deep shade at LRV 18 with a warm yellow undertone. It suits wood tones, cabinetry or one rich wall in a room with good daylight. It comes from "The Good Samaritan" by David Teniers the Younger.
The most olive of the group, deep at LRV 18 with a warm yellow undertone. Try it in a room with plants, natural wood or a lot of daylight. It comes from "Landscape" by Théodore Rousseau, c. 1850.
Very light at LRV 75 with a warm yellow undertone. Use it on trim, ceilings or the walls of a room next to a mustard one. It comes from "The Good Samaritan" by David Teniers the Younger.
Sherwin-Williams SW 7571 Casa Blanca
Near-identical
Farrow & Ball No. 2008 Dimity
Very close
Valspar 3001-8C Manila Cream
Very close
#4E4230LRV 6
Dark Bronze Brown
Very dark at LRV 6, so it gives a strong contrast on a door, a built-in or a single piece of furniture. Its warm yellow undertone sits well beside mustard. It comes from "Madame Théodore Gobillard (Yves Morisot, 1838–1893)" by Edgar Degas, 1869.
A deep red-orange brown at LRV 9, useful for a textile, a painted cabinet or a small accent. It adds warmth next to the amber mustards. It comes from "The Crucifixion" by Stefano da Verona, ca. 1400.
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
Color
Neutral daylight
North light
South light
Evening lamps
Warm Mustard Gold
Amber Mustard
Toffee Gold
Warm Cream
Try these colors in a room
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is The Crucifixion.
How do I choose between these mustard shades?
Start with how much light the room gets. The lightest mustard here is #D7A159 at LRV 41, so it keeps a room feeling open and works well in a hallway or a smaller room. The darker ones, from LRV 32 down to 18, absorb more light and suit rooms where you want a snug, enclosed feel.
Next, look at undertone. #D7A159, #9B754B and #976F2C lean warm yellow, which reads as classic mustard. #C88E53 and #C97F28 lean warm red-orange, so they read closer to amber or toffee. #84752E is the deepest and most olive of the group.
Then think about scale. A mid-tone like #D7A159 can cover all four walls. Deep shades at LRV 18 to 20 are easier to live with on one wall, in a dining room, or in a room used mostly in the evening. Pick one shade for the walls and let the others show up in wood, fabric and accents.
What goes with mustard: trim, ceiling and flooring?
A warm cream is the easiest partner. #EBE0CE has an LRV of 75 and a warm yellow undertone, so it sits next to mustard without a sharp edge. Use it on trim and the ceiling, or on the walls of a neighboring room. Its closest matches include Sherwin-Williams SW 7571 Casa Blanca, Behr PPU7-15 Ivory Lace and Farrow & Ball No. 2008 Dimity, all near-identical.
For depth, add #4E4230 (LRV 6) on a door, a built-in or one piece of furniture. For a warmer accent, #7A462E (LRV 9) brings a rust brown that suits a textile or a painted cabinet.
For flooring, mid to deep wood tones echo #976F2C and #9B754B and keep the room cohesive. A dark floor lets a mustard wall stay the lightest large surface. Rugs and curtains in #C88E53 or #C97F28 link the walls to the floor.
How does mustard look in different light?
North-facing rooms get cool, even light, which can mute mustard and push it toward brown. In those rooms, choose the lighter #D7A159 (LRV 41) rather than a deep shade, which can turn heavy. South- and west-facing rooms bring warmer light, so mustard glows and the deeper shades look rich instead of dim.
Artificial light matters as much. Warm bulbs deepen the red-orange shades #C88E53 and #C97F28. Cooler bulbs can make yellow-undertone shades like #976F2C and #84752E look flatter and greener. Pick one bulb temperature for the room and judge your sample under it.
Finish also changes how a color reads. Flat and matte finishes soften deep shades and hide wall flaws. Satin reflects more light, which can make a mustard look a little lighter on a wall near a window.
How do I test mustard paint samples?
Paint a sample at least two feet square, or use a large board you can move around. Do not judge from a small chip. Put samples on two different walls, because the same color changes with the light each wall receives.
Look at the samples in the morning, at midday and in the evening with the lamps on. Hold them next to your trim color, your floor and your largest fabric. A mustard that looks right alone can look different beside a cream or a wood floor.
The paint matches on this page are the closest measured to each painting color, labeled near-identical, very close or close. Treat them as a starting point. Screens vary, so the sample on your wall is the final check. Try two shades side by side, such as #D7A159 and #C88E53, to see how much undertone matters in your room.
FAQ
What color is mustard paint?
Mustard is a warm, muted yellow with a touch of brown or orange. The shades here run from the golden #D7A159 at LRV 41 to the deep olive-leaning #84752E at LRV 18.
Is golden yellow paint the same as mustard yellow paint?
They overlap. Golden yellow leans bright and clear, while mustard yellow is more muted and brown. #D7A159 sits closest to the golden end, and #9B754B and #976F2C sit at the deeper mustard end.
Which mustard paint is closest to #D7A159?
Sherwin-Williams SW 6382 Ceremonial Gold and Behr 300D-5 Desert Caravan are near-identical matches. Farrow & Ball No. 66 India Yellow is very close.
Does mustard paint work in a small room?
Yes, if you choose the lighter shades. #D7A159 at LRV 41 keeps a small room fairly open. Deeper shades at LRV 18 to 20 feel enclosed, which can suit a small study or dining room.
What trim color goes with mustard walls?
A warm cream such as #EBE0CE (LRV 75) is a soft choice for trim and ceilings. For a stronger contrast on doors or built-ins, try the dark bronze brown #4E4230.
Save these colors
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, public domain (CC0).
Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
From The Crucifixion, Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia)
