Bistro Blue
1421 · #53588A · LRV 11 — cool blue tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Nocturne Shade5
- 2Bistro Blue11
- 3Blue Nova17
- 4Gothic Purple24
What Color Is Bistro Blue, Really?
Bistro Blue reads as a cool blue tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 1421 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Bistro Blue
Bistro Blue works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
How Lighting Changes Bistro Blue
With an LRV of 11, Bistro Blue is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Bistro Blue 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 Benjamin Moore 1421 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Aurora SplendorPPU16-01 · Behr | 2.7 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Purple Frenzy4004-10C · Valspar | 3.4 | 10.5 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Blue JewelPPG1167-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.1 | 9 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Roman VioletPPG1170-7 · Glidden | 2.7 | 9 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Passion Purple142-7DB · Dutch Boy | 1.6 | 11 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Berry Berry BlueDEFD57 · Dunn-Edwards | 4.8 | 12 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Bistro Blue within Benjamin Moore'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 #53588A in HSL space. Pair Bistro Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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