Blue Ground (No.210)
A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile.
About Farrow & Ball Blue Ground
Blue Ground (No.210) is a blue from Farrow & Ball's collection with an LRV of 35 and historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile.
Blue Ground is a deeper color with an LRV of 35, meaning it absorbs more light than it reflects. This gives it real drama and sophistication. It works well on accent walls, exterior siding, front doors, cabinets, and architectural features where you want a bold statement. In a full room application, make sure you have adequate lighting and use bright white trim to prevent the space from feeling too dark.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
Blue Ground has an LRV of 35, placing it in the medium-dark range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.
Undertone Analysis
Blue Ground has historic blue-gray undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.
A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile. Neutral undertones give you the most flexibility in decorating. This color should coordinate well with both warm elements (wood, brass, cream) and cool elements (chrome, marble, blue-gray), making it a versatile foundation for any design direction.
Lighting Behavior
In bright rooms, the blue is soft and present. In dim rooms, a sophisticated cool gray. Under warm light, the blue calms.
Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Blue Ground with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.
Best Rooms for Blue Ground
Farrow & Ball recommends Blue Ground for: bedroom, living room, bathroom, hallway, dining room.
Closest Matches in Other Brands
Find the closest equivalent to Farrow & Ball Blue Ground from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.
Benjamin Moore Matches
Gossamer Blue is similar.
View all Benjamin Moore matches →Sherwin Williams Matches
Coordinating Colors
These colors pair beautifully with Blue Ground for a cohesive palette. Use them for trim, accents, adjacent rooms, or furniture to create a well-designed space.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Farrow & Ball Blue Ground is Morning Fog (SW 6255) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Morning Fog is close. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart, while 2 to 4 means the difference is subtle.
Blue Ground has historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.
Blue Ground (No.210) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 35, which puts it in the medium-dark range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 35, this is a darker color that creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pair it with bright white trim for the best contrast.
Blue Ground leans neutral, with historic blue-gray undertones that do not strongly push warm or cool. This makes it one of the more versatile colors in its family, pairing well with both warm and cool accent colors and finishes. In bright rooms, the blue is soft and present. In dim rooms, a sophisticated cool gray. Under warm light, the blue calms.
Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.