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Blues
White Elephant
White Elephant is a very light, cool neutral color with a blue or violet undertone. Its estimated light reflectance value (LRV) is about 73.4, so it reflects roughly 73% of the light that hits it.
Color facts
| Hex | #DEDEE5 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 222, 222, 229 |
| HSL | 240°, 12%, 88% |
| Estimated LRV | 73.4 |
| Temperature | cool neutral |
| Text on it | Black text, contrast 15.7:1 |
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
Reflects most of the light that hits it. Good for ceilings, small or dark rooms and whole-house walls. In north light very light colors can look flat or slightly gray, so test a large sample.
North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that can push this color cooler and grayer. Test it there before committing, or pick a slightly warmer cousin.
South- and west-facing rooms get warm, strong light, which this cooler color can calm.
Rooms it suits
- Small rooms and hallways
- Ceilings
- Rooms with little daylight
- Open-plan main walls
A 60-30-10 palette built on White Elephant
White Elephant
Anti-Flash White
Paper Castles
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
Paper Castles#E5E2DAAnalogous
Violet Vogue#E9E1E8Analogous
Drifting Cloud#DBE0E1Triadic
Diamonds in the Sky#E5E2E1Triadic
Celadon Dream#DBE7E1Split complementary
Diamonds in the Sky#E5E2E1Tints 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 White Elephant in real paint
White Elephant 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.