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Beiges, greiges and warm neutrals
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a light, warm neutral color with a yellow undertone. Its estimated light reflectance value (LRV) is about 53.7, so it reflects roughly 54% of the light that hits it.
Color facts
| Hex | #C9C1B1 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 201, 193, 177 |
| HSL | 40°, 18%, 74% |
| Estimated LRV | 53.7 |
| Temperature | warm neutral |
| Text on it | Black text, contrast 11.7:1 |
LRV here is estimated from the screen color (relative luminance). Paint brands publish measured LRVs on their own chips, which can differ.
How it reads on a wall
A comfortable whole-room wall color. It keeps rooms bright while showing more color than a white.
North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light all day; a warm color like this one helps balance it.
South- and west-facing rooms get warm, strong light that will make this color look warmer and more saturated in the afternoon.
Rooms it suits
- Living rooms with good daylight
- Bedrooms
- Home offices
- Kitchen walls and islands
A 60-30-10 palette built on Oatmeal
Oatmeal
White Beach
Ethereal Mist
The 60-30-10 rule splits a room into a main color, a secondary color and an accent. Swap in real paint and fabric samples before you buy.
Harmonies
Complementary
Ethereal Mist#B0B8CCAnalogous
Tropical Fog#CBCAB6Analogous
Garden Snail#CDB1ABTriadic
Seafoam Slate#A6BCBETriadic
Fog Syringa#C4BAD2Split complementary
Seafoam Slate#A6BCBETints and shades
Lighter tints work as a ceiling or adjoining-room color; deeper shades suit trim, doors or cabinets.
Similar named colors
Closest Colors of the Year
Getting Oatmeal in real paint
Oatmeal is a name from the open color-names list (MIT license), not a specific paint product. Most paint counters can mix a close match: bring a printed or physical sample, or use a brand color-match tool, then buy a sample pot and paint a 2 by 2 foot swatch on two walls. Screens and printers shift color.
On-screen colors are approximations. Pantone, Color of the Year and brand color names are trademarks of their owners.