Home › Benjamin Moore › Blue › French Violet
French Violet CC-960
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Noticeable blue undertone
In CIELAB, French Violet sits at L* 46.5, a* 4.2, b* -14.3. Its hue angle is 286° and its chroma is 14.9, so it leans blue clearly enough to notice on a full wall. It classifies as cool. Among Benjamin Moore colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 8%.
LRV 17.6: dark
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 17.6, French Violet is lighter than 18% of Benjamin Moore colors. Absorbs most light. Good for accent walls, cabinets, doors and exteriors; needs good lighting indoors.
Closest Sherwin-Williams match to French Violet
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesmerize | SW 6544 | 4.22 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Soulful Blue | SW 6543 | 6.16 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Purple Passage | SW 6551 | 6.65 | Similar, clearly different |
Closest Behr match to French Violet
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dangerously Elegant | S540-6 | 2.91 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Enchanted Evening | 640F-6 | 3.18 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Violet Evening | 630F-6 | 3.26 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Violet | 1427 | 0.00 | Practically identical | |
| Amethyst Shadow | 1441 | 3.49 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Amethyst Shadow | CC-930 | 3.49 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Blue Heron | 832 | 4.54 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Blue Gaspé | 1435 | 5.56 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Blue Gaspé | CC-900 | 5.56 | Similar, clearly different |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Benjamin Moore with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Sea Life 2118-40 · lighter, LRV 22.0
- Luxe AF-580 · lighter, LRV 21.8
- In the Twilight CC-934 · lighter, LRV 21.8
- Nightfall Sky CC-38 · darker, LRV 15.5
- Pinot Grigio Grape CSP-460 · darker, LRV 14.9
- Andes Summit CSP-600 · darker, LRV 14.1
Colors that go with French Violet
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Benjamin Moore color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Mountain Moss 2142-30 · complementary (180°)
- Bedford Blue 1679 · analogous (−30°)
- Pinot Grigio Grape CSP-460 · analogous (+30°)
- Sequoia 1245 · triadic (120°)
- Verdigris 685 · triadic (240°)
French Violet vs popular colors
- Van Deusen Blue (Benjamin Moore HC-156, ΔE 11.2) is darker (LRV 12.0 vs 17.6), more yellow/warm, more green.
- Shadow (Benjamin Moore 2117-30, ΔE 13.7) is darker (LRV 9.3 vs 17.6), more yellow/warm, more red/pink, more muted.
- Peppercorn (Sherwin-Williams SW 7674, ΔE 14.2) is darker (LRV 9.7 vs 17.6), more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.