Monkey Puzzle
No. 238 · #4B5956 · LRV 9 — cool blue-green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Dark Night4
- 2Monkey Puzzle9
- 3Hidden Gem14
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
What Color Is Monkey Puzzle, Really?
Monkey Puzzle reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Farrow & Ball No. 238 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Monkey Puzzle
Monkey Puzzle earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Monkey Puzzle
At LRV 9, Monkey Puzzle is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Monkey Puzzle 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 Farrow & Ball No. 238 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 | Still WaterSW 6223 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.3 | 10 | Color page → |
| Behr | HostaleafMQ6-09 · Behr | 2.1 | 9 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Dark Pewter2122-10 · Benjamin Moore | 1.6 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | PrehistoricV100-6 · Valspar | 1.5 | 9.2 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Antique SlatePPG13-29 · PPG / Glidden | 3.3 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Antique SlatePPG13-29 · Glidden | 3.3 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Farrow & Ball Colors
The nearest shades to Monkey Puzzle within Farrow & Ball'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 #4B5956 in HSL space. Pair Monkey Puzzle with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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