Benjamin Moore Bistro Blue 1421
| Official page: | Bistro Blue 1421 |
| Code: | 1421 |
| Name: | Bistro Blue |
| Brand: | Benjamin Moore |
What color is Benjamin Moore Bistro Blue?
The charming warmth of Benjamin Moore 1421 Bistro Blue brings a sense of depth and sophistication to any space it graces. This rich hue contrasts beautifully with crisp whites, adding a touch of modern elegance to the decor. Pairing Bistro Blue with subtle greys creates a chic and timeless color palette that is perfect for creating a cozy yet stylish atmosphere. When combined with hints of natural wood tones, this versatile color can evoke a sense of rustic charm and contemporary flair. Benjamin Moore 1421 Bistro Blue is a truly versatile and inviting color choice for those looking to infuse their interiors with character and charm.
Bistro Blue for exterior
Looking for a fresh new look for your house exterior or starting from skretch? We’ve collected pictures of real-life homes that have been painted with this cool blue hue. Find inspiration for your house’s exterior, front doors, gates, shutters, frames or windows.

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What are Benjamin Moore Bistro Blue undertones?
Bistro Blue 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:
#53588A
RGB code:
83, 88, 138
Is Benjamin Moore Bistro Blue 1421 cool or warm?
With a hue of 235°, this dark blue reads cool based on its HSL hue position.
1421 Bistro Blue HSL code: 235, 25%, 43%
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 Bistro Blue
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 dark blue shade looks under different lighting:


4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Benjamin Moore Bistro Blue:
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
1421
Bistro Blue
Darker shades
1421
Bistro Blue
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 Bistro Blue with a blue hue, complementary colors are those with a orange hue close to 55, such as Benjamin Moore Himalayan Trek and Briarwood.
LRV of Bistro Blue
Bistro Blue has an LRV of 13.33% and refers to Medium Dark which means that this color reflects very little 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 13.33%, 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 | #53588A | |
| RGB Decimal | 83, 88, 138 | |
| RGB Percent | 32.55%, 34.51%, 54.12% | |
| HSV | Hue: 235° Saturation: 39.86% Value: 54.12% | |
| HSL | hsl(235, 25, 43) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 39.86 Magenta: 36.23 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 45.88 | |
| YIQ | Y: 92.205 I: -19.047 Q: 14.502 | |
| XYZ | X: 11.643 Y: 10.653 Z: 25.481 | |
| CIE Lab | L:38.99 a:11.295 b:-28.438 | |
| CIE Luv | L:38.99 u:-5.049 v:-41.335 | |
| Decimal | 5462154 | |
| Hunter Lab | 32.639, 6.556, -23.44 |
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