Lafayette Blue
What Lafayette Blue Actually Looks Like
Lafayette Blue reads as a soft, weathered blue, the kind of color you see on historic mid-Atlantic woodwork and shutters. It sits in the middle of the value range, neither light nor deep, so it holds its own on a wall without shouting. In bright daylight it looks clear and airy. In lower or north-facing light it settles into something quieter and more muted.
Lafayette Blue Undertones
The color carries a slight gray quality that keeps it from reading as a bright or tropical blue. There is a hint of green in certain lights, which is common in historic reproduction blues of this period. Overall it leans cool rather than warm.
Where Lafayette Blue Works Best
This color comes from the Colonial Williamsburg collection, so it was designed with period architecture in mind. It suits exterior shutters, front doors, and trim on traditional homes well. Indoors it works on accent walls, built-ins, or a study where you want color with some age and gravity to it rather than something fresh and punchy.
Where to put Lafayette Blue
This is where Lafayette Blue earns its keep. On a white or cream clapboard house, it gives you a historically grounded look that does not veer into modern navy or baby blue territory. It weathers gracefully and reads as intentional rather than trendy.
The muted, slightly grayed quality of this blue makes a study feel focused and calm rather than casual. Pair it with warm wood furniture and off-white trim to keep the room from feeling cold.
Mid-toned historic blues have a long track record in dining rooms. Lafayette Blue at this depth creates a cocooning effect in the evening under warm incandescent or candlelight, while staying livable during the day.
What to Pair With Lafayette Blue
No coordinating colors are specified for this color in our database. As a general guide, Lafayette Blue pairs well with creamy off-whites on trim, warm taupes on adjacent walls, and natural wood tones throughout.
Colors that clash with Lafayette Blue
A stark, blue-white trim can push Lafayette Blue toward looking drab or cold, especially in north-facing rooms where the color already leans cool.
Placing Lafayette Blue adjacent to a blue-gray wall flattens both colors and removes contrast, making the space feel monotone and heavy.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore code is CW-610. The LRV is 37.06, which puts it solidly in the mid-range, darker than most wall whites and pastels but lighter than deep navy or forest tones. The hex value renders in the color swatch on this page.
Yes. It is available in exterior finishes and was historically conceived for traditional architecture. It holds up well on shutters, doors, and exterior trim, and the muted quality means it does not fade to an unrecognizable color as some brighter blues can.
Possibly, yes. Many historic reproduction blues carry a slight teal or green quality that becomes visible in certain natural light conditions, particularly in rooms with a lot of reflected green from trees or landscaping outside. This is part of the character of the color rather than a defect.
Eggshell is the most practical choice for walls. It gives you just enough sheen to make the color pop slightly while remaining washable. Matte works if you want the most historically accurate, flat look, but it will show scuffs more readily in high-traffic areas.