Behr Bossa Nova S540-7
| Code: | S540-7 |
| Name: | Bossa Nova |
| Brand: | Behr |
What color is Behr Bossa Nova?
Create a statement in your space with Behr Bossa Nova. This rich and vibrant hue, S540-7, adds a touch of excitement to any room. Pair it with soft neutrals like beige and ivory for a balanced look, or go bold with pops of teal or mustard yellow for a striking contrast. Let Bossa Nova be the focal point of your decor and watch your room come alive with energy and warmth.
Behr Bossa Nova reviews (23 photos)
View the photos of real spaces painted with this grey that were not included in specific categories.Close-ups, painted furniture, storages and dressers, hallways, stairs and ceilings.























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What are Behr Bossa Nova undertones?
Bossa Nova has a clear blue undertone based on its position in the color space. We identify undertones by isolating the pure hue (separating it from lightness and saturation), which avoids distortions caused by tints, tones, and shades.
This method is generally more reliable than judging undertones on a white background.
HEX value:
#51556D
RGB code:
81, 85, 109
Is Behr Bossa Nova S540-7 cool or warm?
With a hue of 231°, this black leans cool, but it's near the neutral line and may feel warmer in certain lighting.
S540-7 Bossa Nova HSL code: 231, 15%, 37%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color.
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
How light temperature affects Bossa Nova
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural‑light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange‑red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange‑yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color‑temperature (Kelvins).
Use the slider to see how this black shade looks under different lighting:


4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Behr Bossa Nova:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Lighter shades
S540-7
Bossa Nova
Darker shades
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Bossa Nova with a blue hue, complementary colors are those with a orange hue close to 51, such as Behr Potting Soil and Mocha Accent.
LRV of Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova has an LRV of 9.65% and refers to Dark colors which means that this color almost does not reflect light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 9.65%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you’ll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need. To copy the code, just click the icon to the right of it.
| Format | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #51556d | |
| RGB Decimal | 81, 85, 109 | |
| RGB Percent | 31.76%, 33.33%, 42.75% | |
| HSV | Hue: 231° Saturation: 25.69% Value: 42.75% | |
| HSL | hsl(231, 15, 37) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 25.69 Magenta: 22.02 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 57.25 | |
| YIQ | Y: 86.54 I: -10.096 Q: 6.623 | |
| XYZ | X: 9.401 Y: 9.35 Z: 15.773 | |
| CIE Lab | L:36.65 a:4.295 b:-14.263 | |
| CIE Luv | L:36.65 u:-3.3 v:-19.589 | |
| Decimal | 5330285 | |
| Hunter Lab | 30.578, 1.368, -9.179 |
Color equivalents
S560-7
Lap Of Luxury
Behr
M530-7
Elegant Navy
Behr
PPU15-18
Vintage Velvet
Behr
PPU16-19
Mardi Gras
Behr
S560-6
Blue Blood
Behr
826
Stunning
Benjamin Moore

CSP-535
Approaching Storm
Benjamin Moore
S550-7
Knighthood
Behr
M550-7
Strong Iris
Behr
2069-30
Darkest Grape
Benjamin Moore
S550-6
Mysterious Night
Behr
PPU15-01
Nobility Blue
Behr
S530-6
Extreme
Behr
MQ5-15
Award Night
Behr
SW 9689
Ripe Berry
Sherwin Williams
840
Kensington Blue
Benjamin Moore

1435
Blue Gaspe
Benjamin Moore

HDC-CL-26
Champlain Blue
Behr

