Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue HC-156
| Official page: | Van Deusen Blue HC-156 |
| Code: | HC-156 |
| Name: | Van Deusen Blue |
| Brand: | Benjamin Moore |
What color is Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue?
Van Deusen Blue (HC-156) is one of those blues that feels classic without going preppy. It’s deep and slightly muted, so it reads calm on the wall - not neon, not navy-black - just a confident, lived-in blue that works with both modern and traditional homes. You'll see it look especially good next to warm wood, crisp white trim, and brass or matte black hardware.
If you love the vibe but want darker, take a look at Hudson Bay; it leans deeper and moodier. If you want the same family but lighter and airier, Andes Summit is a great step down in depth.
Van Deusen Blue for bedroom (11 photos)











Van Deusen Blue for living room (12 photos)
Van Deusen Blue is basically an inky navy that can look very deep on big walls - so if your living room doesn’t get great light, just know it may read almost charcoal at night. It’s amazing for traditional/Victorian-ish details though: paint the fireplace wall (or even the whole mantel) and suddenly the trim looks more architectural, especially with crisp white and a round brass/gilt mirror like in the photos. If you want it to feel more relaxed and lived-in (not formal-library), go eclectic/boho with a colorful rug and mixed pillows—those bright accents really wake the blue up. For a modern/industrial vibe, a geometric paneled accent wall + a black leather sofa totally works, but keep nearby walls lighter so it doesn’t feel heavy.
Tip: warm it up with natural wood (oak, walnut) and a few plants—this shade loves that contrast.












Benjamin Moore HC-156 for bathroom (8 photos)
Want more personality? Pair it with blue floral or leafy wallpaper. Just know: in low light, it can look almost navy. Use warm bulbs (2700–3000K) so it doesn’t turn icy.








Benjamin Moore HC-156 on kitchen cabinets (10 photos)
Van Deusen Blue on kitchen cabinets is that deep blue that makes the whole space feel pulled together. It plays really well with crisp white backsplash tile and stainless (like in the photo with the hood), so the kitchen stays bright instead of heavy.
For countertops, you’ve got a few “can’t miss” options:
- Warm butcher block / oak (instant cozy, perfect with open shelves and plants).
- White quartz or marble-look quartz with soft gray veining (clean, classic, and super safe).
- Real marble if you want drama: Calacatta, Statuario, or Arabescato look gorgeous against this blue.
- Dark stone works too (like that deep, almost-black top in the last photo), but then keep the backsplash lighter so it doesn’t get moody-fast.
Tip: If you’re choosing hardware, go brass for warmth or matte black for a sharper look.










Van Deusen Blue for exterior (3 photos)
Van Deusen Blue is such a smart exterior pick when you want classic but not boring. It looks amazing on a front door against brick (instant curb appeal), and it also holds up beautifully on siding - especially with crisp white trim like in these photos.



Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue reviews (8 photos)
View the photos of real spaces painted with this blue that were not included in specific categories.Close-ups, painted furniture, storages and dressers, hallways, stairs and ceilings.








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What are Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue undertones?
Van Deusen 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:
#485B6E
RGB code:
72, 91, 110
Is Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue HC-156 cool or warm?
With a hue of 210°, this dark blue reads cool based on its HSL hue position.
HC-156 Van Deusen Blue HSL code: 210, 21%, 36%
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 Van Deusen 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 Van Deusen 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
HC-156
Van Deusen Blue
Darker shades
HC-156
Van Deusen 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 Van Deusen Blue with a blue hue, complementary colors are those with a orange hue close to 30, such as Benjamin Moore Night Shade and Woodcliff Lake.
LRV of Van Deusen Blue
Van Deusen Blue has an LRV of 11.97% 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 11.97%, 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 | #485B6E | |
| RGB Decimal | 72, 91, 110 | |
| RGB Percent | 28.24%, 35.69%, 43.14% | |
| HSV | Hue: 210° Saturation: 34.55% Value: 43.14% | |
| HSL | hsl(210, 21, 36) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 34.55 Magenta: 17.27 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 56.86 | |
| YIQ | Y: 87.485 I: -17.428 Q: 1.894 | |
| XYZ | X: 9.227 Y: 9.985 Z: 16.189 | |
| CIE Lab | L:37.816 a:-2.169 b:-13.167 | |
| CIE Luv | L:37.816 u:-9.848 v:-17.399 | |
| Decimal | 4741998 | |
| Hunter Lab | 31.599, -3.177, -8.255 |
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