Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Bistro Blue |
| SKU | 1421 |
| Hex | #53588A |
| RGB | 83, 88, 138 |
| HSL | 235°, 25%, 43% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Purple |
About Benjamin Moore 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.
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.
Closest matches by brand
10 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all purple from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe 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.
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.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Benjamin Moore Bistro Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Bistro Blue from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Benjamin Moore 1421 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At Behr, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Aurora Splendor (PPU16-01) — very close at ΔE 2.71, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aurora Splendor swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Purple Frenzy (4004-10C) — very close at ΔE 3.35, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10.5 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Purple Frenzy swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Blue Jewel (PPG1167-7) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Jewel swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At Glidden, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Roman Violet (PPG1170-7) — very close at ΔE 2.74, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Roman Violet swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Bistro Blue
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Passion Purple (142-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.56). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Bistro Blue without repainting risk. See the full Passion Purple swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Bistro Blue
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Bistro Blue. The nearest is Berry Berry Blue (DEFD57) at ΔE 4.77 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Berry Berry Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Altar of Heaven (1264) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Altar of Heaven swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Fresh Take (1278) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fresh Take swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Bistro Blue
At Kompozit, the closest color to Bistro Blue is Fresh Take (1278) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Fresh Take swatch →