French Colony
N480-4 · #88B3BC · LRV 41 — cool blue-green tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Hidden Gem14
- 2Van Courtland Blue31
- 3French Colony41
- 4Wythe Blue48
- 5Ocean Boulevard53
What Color Is French Colony, Really?
French Colony reads as a cool blue-green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Behr N480-4 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for French Colony
French Colony is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes French Colony
French Colony sits in the mid-range at LRV 41, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about French Colony are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr N480-4 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | EbbtideSW 6493 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.0 | 41 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Saratoga Springs1669 · Benjamin Moore | 4.0 | 42 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Windswept Clouds8003-39D · Valspar | 4.0 | 41 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Crystal LakePPG1151-4 · PPG / Glidden | 2.6 | 42 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Gentle Turquoise90GG 41/143 · Glidden | 2.5 | 41 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | North Haven334-4DB · Dutch Boy | 1.4 | 39 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to French Colony within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #88B3BC in HSL space. Pair French Colony with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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