Vardo
No. 288 · #427F83 · LRV 18 — cool blue-green tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Salamander6
- 2Newburg Green11
- 3Vardo18
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
- 5Wythe Blue48
What Color Is Vardo, Really?
Vardo reads as a cool blue-green tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Farrow & Ball No. 288 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Vardo
Vardo works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Vardo
With an LRV of 18, Vardo is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Vardo 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. 288 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 | Grand CanalSW 6488 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.3 | 16 | Color page → |
| Behr | Heron530F-6 · Behr | 2.7 | 19 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Calypso Blue727 · Benjamin Moore | 3.6 | 16 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Sky Space5001-6B · Valspar | 4.3 | 16.9 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Lucky ShamrockPPG1146-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.4 | 17 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Lucky ShamrockPPG1146-6 · Glidden | 2.5 | 17 | Color page → |
Similar Farrow & Ball Colors
The nearest shades to Vardo 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 #427F83 in HSL space. Pair Vardo with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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