Vardo
No.288 · Farrow & Ball
LRV 18 · dark
0 black100 white
Farrow & Ball Vardo (No.288) is a very dark blue with a cool blue-green undertone and an LRV of 18. Closest matches: Benjamin Moore Calypso Blue (727). For trim, try Cabbage White (No.269).
Room Preview
This photo shows walls only. Photos show the color in a real room's light; your own light will change it.
Suggested trim and ceiling are Farrow & Ball whites that share this color's undertone.
Color Details
| Family | Blue |
| LRV | 18.0 (dark; 0 = black, 100 = pure white) |
| HEX | #427F83 |
| RGB | 66, 127, 131 |
| HSL | 184°, 33%, 39% |
About Vardo
Vardo (No.288) is a very dark, medium-strength blue from Farrow & Ball that leans green. With an LRV of 18, Vardo absorbs most light. It creates a dramatic, enveloping look and suits accent walls, cabinetry and well-lit rooms.
North-facing light makes Vardo read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it. It's a good fit for bedrooms, offices, kitchen islands and cabinets and accent walls. Next to Sloe Blue (No.87), it's cooler and more colorful.
How Vardo changes with the light
Vardo has a cool undertone. North light will push it cooler and grayer, while south and west light warm it up. If your room faces north, look at it next to a warm white trim.
North-facing rooms
Vardo has a cool undertone that north light will push cooler and grayer; warm white trim helps balance it.
East-facing rooms
Vardo will look warmer and brighter in the morning and cooler and grayer by afternoon; check a sample at both times.
South-facing rooms
Bright south light shows Vardo close to its true color, slightly lighter and warmer.
West-facing rooms
Vardo looks cool in the morning and warms up in the golden late-afternoon light.
See Vardo in real homes
Photos people have shared of Vardo in their own rooms. Opens Instagram or Pinterest in a new tab.
Vardo equivalents in other brands
The closest color from each brand. ΔE (“delta E”) scores how different two colors look: under 2.5 is very hard to tell apart on a wall, over 5 is clearly different.
Sherwin-Williams
Closest available · ΔE 12.1
Also close: Needlepoint Navy (ΔE 13.9)
Compare side by side →Behr
Closest available · ΔE 8.4
Also close: Blueprint (ΔE 9.0)
Compare side by side →Similar Farrow & Ball colors
Compare and explore
Vardo questions
What undertone does Vardo have?
Vardo has a cool blue-green undertone, so it reads as a cool color. North-facing light makes Vardo read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it.
Is Vardo a light or dark color?
Vardo has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 18.0 on a scale where 0 is black and 100 is pure white, which makes it a very dark color. With an LRV of 18, Vardo absorbs most light. It creates a dramatic, enveloping look and suits accent walls, cabinetry and well-lit rooms.
What is the closest match to Vardo in other paint brands?
Benjamin Moore: Calypso Blue 727 (close, ΔE 3.6); Sherwin-Williams: Smoky Blue SW 7604 (closest available, ΔE 12.1); Behr: Sophisticated Teal HDC-CL-22 (closest available, ΔE 8.4). Matches are calculated with the CIEDE2000 color difference formula; always check a physical sample before buying.
What trim and ceiling color goes with Vardo?
Try Cabbage White (No.269) on both trim and ceiling. It's a Farrow & Ball white that shares Vardo's undertone, so the room feels coordinated without looking stark.
Where does Vardo work best?
Vardo works well in bedrooms, offices, kitchen islands and cabinets and accent walls. With an LRV of 18, Vardo absorbs most light. It creates a dramatic, enveloping look and suits accent walls, cabinetry and well-lit rooms.
Planning more than one room?
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