While the rest of the country calls the season we are in “spring,” here we call it “stick season.” March and April are an achingly long season of high winds with sideways rains, interspersed with snow and lots of mud. All the while, we wait for May flowers, warmer weather and time spent enjoying lobster rolls and watching the seals swim along the shoreline.

You dear reader, are about to benefit from my newfound mental escape: I bring you the prettiest New England Coastal Color Palette. So, if you are looking for a getaway or are looking for a coastal color palette, pull up a chair! I have tons of photo inspiration and actual paint colors for you to get started!

New England Beach House Color Scheme

Our palette includes a range of soft neutrals and greens as well as the requisite blues.

• Simply White: Creamy and bright- this classic white creates plenty of contrast for a classic beach house vibe.
• Sail Cloth: A go-to wall color wherever you need a neutral.
• Accessible Beige: A soft taupe that goes just about anywhere. It can be used on walls or cabinetry and looks stunning with blues and greens.
• November Rain: A cross between green and beige- this color is great for bedrooms and transitional spaces.
• Pearl Gray: A super pretty and bright green with hints of blue and gray.
• Imperial Gray: One of my favorite paint colors for any home in New England- but especially appropriate for those along the coastline.
• Adagio: Our go-to coastal blue for that beach house look. It doesn’t lean too green or too purple- and lacks any overt intensity which would make it feel out of place.
• Washington Blue: No beach house would be complete without Navy! This classic shade is de rigueur!

Benjamin Moore Simply White: OC-117

This popular bright off-white paint is creamy and soft when compared to more stark white paints (like Chantilly Lace.) It has an LRV of 89, which means you will get classic beach house contrast for your trim and ceiling but it has enough warmth that it feels softer and relaxed: just right for a coastal home in the northeast.

Use this paint color for walls, trim, ceiling and cabinetry. Keep in mind that the all-white look is best when a room is bright to begin with.

Benjamin Moore Sail Cloth: OC-142

This super-soft khaki beige is the go-to neutral for this beach house color scheme. With an LRV of 71, it can be used as a wall color or for trim. It would work on cabinetry as well.

In brighter spaces, it will feel warm, soft and barely there, and in darker spaces, the yellowish feel may be more pronounced.

Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige: SW 7036

For a cooler, mid-toned neutral I pulled in a favorite paint color from Sherwin-Williams: Accessible Beige. While it has a deeper value and LRV of 58, Accessible Beige can come in handy for built-ins or cabinetry, and works as a wall color as well. It is super pretty with navy and white too.

If you are painting your kitchen cabinets, you could use Accessible Beige, paired with white walls and navy accents for a timeless coastal look that will withstand the latest trend cycle.

Benjamin Moore November Rain: OC-50

This light neutral paint color has a green personality you may miss at first when looking at the paint chip. But don’t let that fool you. Once you paint a whole room with it, you’ll love the fact that it has a soft green undertone. In other words, it is not your basic builder beige!

I love it with creamy white, jute, sisal, linen and natural fibers. It is also pretty with aqua-gray and navy. It’s a no-brainer for our coastal palette!

Benjamin Moore Pearl Gray: 863

In darker spaces, you may need a paint color with a light LRV- but with a bit of pigment beyond your basic neutrals. Enter Pearl Gray.

This clean and fresh seafoam color has an LRV of 73, which gives it enough brightness for darker spaces. But it also has enough gray to make it feel appropriate in a New England coastal home. This is key! I like this paint color for bedrooms on the north side of a home (or those without a lot of natural light) and in transitional spaces like hallways.

Benjamin Moore Imperial Gray 1571

While splashy turquoise and tropical blue-greens work well in areas with cerulian colored ocean, here in New England, our waters are steely gray- and that means for our interiors the tones are equally understated.

When working with this palette, use Imperial Gray as a paint color, but also take the paint chip to pick out your furnishings too. While on its own, it appears gray- it actually has plenty of aqua in it to make it feel like it belongs in a serene beach house color scheme.

Benjamin Moore Adagio 1593

This blue-in-disguise looks gray on the chip, but blue when painted in a space. This blue gray paint color is classic and historic looking, but can effortlessly blend into a beachy look when paired with Simply White, Sail Cloth, Accessible Beige and November Rain. It also looks super-sharp with navy and natural woven fibers often found in beach houses.

I love the fact that it doesn’t lean too green or too purple- but sits firmly in the middle of the blue spectrum- all while keeping it’s New England chroma levels appropriateely low. {Not sure what chroma is? Read our primer on clean colors vs dirty colors to learn more.}

Benjamin Moore Washington Blue CW-630

This navy paint color is key to any beach scheme. It is a pure navy without leanings toward violet or teal. It would be a great kitchen cabinet or island color or to paint bookshelves or bedside tables.

Use the paint chip to find navy furnishings and accents, and try not to mix in purple-based navys by mistake. They’ll look off!

Color Pairing Ideas

Use this color palette to inspire your paint colors and furnishings. Here are a few tips to make this beach house color scheme work for your home.

• Make sure to repeat the colors through the entire home to help it feel cohesive.
• Feel free to branch out beyond these colors to make it your own, keeping the chroma level consistent. Rusty coral colors would look lovely with this, as would soft chartruse.
• Test the paint colors in your space before committing to painting the entire room. The lighting in your space will affect the way these colors read.

Need help choosing the right color?
If you’re feeling stuck or want a second set of eyes, I offer Virtual Color Consultations to help you make confident, intentional choices for your home, wherever you’re located.

The post Coastal Color Palette For A New England Style Home appeared first on A Season For Home.

Hi, I’m Katie Webster, the color consultant behind A Season For Home. I’m a trained color expert and I help homeowners choose paint colors that work with their lighting, finishes, and architecture, not just what looks good on Pinterest. My recommendations come from real-world use, client projects, and hands-on testing.

Pin this post to save this paint color review for later!

See Benjamin Moore Beach Glass 1564 on the Ben Moore website.

What Color Is Benjamin Moore Beach Glass?

Benjamin Moore Beach Glass is a low chroma blue paint color with a green undertone. When people search for Beach Glass BM or BM Beach Glass, they usually want to know if it leans blue or green.

Here’s the honest answer: it reads as a muted blue-green, but in most spaces it feels slightly more blue than green. When I analyzed it on a digital level, I found that it is technically a green base (see graphic below) but our eye doesn’t see it this way. Because it has so much gray in it, the saturation collapses and we see it as blue with a beautiful green undertone.

Sorry if that was too technical! In real life, what this means is it won’t feel too icy or overly pastel. It has that hazy, coastal quality that makes a room feel calm and settled.

If you want something crisp and clearly blue, this may feel too softened but don’t let the paint chip fool you. Compare it to other gray blues and you will see that it has plenty of character for most spaces. If you love colors that shift subtly throughout the day, Beach Glass Benjamin Moore is a beautiful option.

LRV of Beach Glass

The LRV of beach glass paint color is 49.7. That places it in the mid-range.

What that means to you and me:

• It reflects a moderate amount of light
• It won’t feel heavy in small rooms
• It can look deeper in low light or north-facing spaces

In bright light, it softens and looks airy. In dim light, the green undertones become more noticeable.

Where Beach Glass Works Best

In my experience, beach glass paint shines in more enclosed spaces. It feels grounding rather than expansive.

I especially love it for:

• I love a Beach Glass Benjamin Moore bedroom with linen, cream or white bedding and natural textures like jute or sisal.
• Bathrooms are the perfect place to add paint colors with a bit of personality. If your home has mostly neutral wall colors, beach glass is a perfect low-chroma hue to add to a smaller enclosed space.
• Dens or home offices with coastal or relaxed traditional vibes expecially with oatmeal colored textiles and layered neutrals

In large open-concept spaces, it can have too much character. For open concepts, I usually recommend a warm neutral and instead add colors like beach glass to rooms off of the main living area that are more contained by cased openings or doors.

The Best White Trim Colors for BM Beach Glass

Because Beach Glass has green undertones, the white you pair with it matters. Too stark and it looks cold. Too creamy and it looks dingy.

These are the whites I reach for:

• BM White Dove: a fantastic all-purpose white with a subtle warmth
• BM Pure White: a cooler grayed-out white that fits with the cooler nature of beach glass paint
• BM Decorator’s White: one of my favorite cool whites because it has enough gray that it doesn’t feel stark
• SW Dover White: a gorgeous option for historical homes and low light conditions
• SW White Duck: my go-to trim color for a softer tonal effect
• SW Creamy: this warm white has unbeatable yellow undertones that are perfect for New England coastal homes and to pair with low chroma colors

If you want a crisp contrast, go with Decorator’s White, Pure White or White Dove. If you prefer soft and cohesive, White Duck is beautiful. If your house is older or your room is dark use Creamy or Dover White. Read more about picking white for trim.

Color Pairings I Love With Beach Glass

One of the reasons I recommend Benjamin Moore Beach Glass is that it plays well with both warm and cool tones.

Here are some combinations that feel intentional:

• Khaki tones like Jonesboro Cream for warmth and balance
• Peachy neutrals like Georgetown Pink Beige for a subtle, flattering glow
• Soft gray navy like Black Pepper by Benjamin Moore for depth and contrast
• Deep teal like Yorktowne Green if you want a richer, layered coastal palette

It also looks beautiful with natural wood, rattan, and aged brass.

This color is a beautiful choice for an accented neutral color scheme. Pairing it with beige, cream and another accent from the above list is a perfect start for a soft beachy interior.

Pro Tip: Katie’s Wallpaper Picks To Go With Beach Glass

Many of my clients are asking about wallpapers in our color consultations and so I am anticipating that you’re wondering what wallpapers would go with Beach Glass. Today I’ve pulled two options for you:

Lewis and Wood Georgia in Gold Slate: Though it has clear inspiration from historical motifs, the scale of this pattern is giant which keeps it feeling fresh and contemporary. See more info here.

Ronald Redding by York Courtyard in Neutral: This would be stunning above wainscotting in either an entry hall or dining room. See more info here.

Comparing Beach Glass to Similar Blue-Gray Paint Colors

If you’re considering Beach Glass, you’re probably also looking at other blue-gray paint colors. Here’s how it stacks up:

• BM Smoke is cleaner and more clearly blue. It feels cooler overall.
• BM Tranquility is more muted with stronger green and gray influence.
• BM Gray Mist leans more green and reads softer.
• BM Gray Cashmere is noticeably brighter and lighter.

Beach Glass sits right in that balanced middle ground. Soft, slightly green, coastal without feeling themed.

Should You Use Beach Glass Benjamin Moore in your home?

If you love calm, muted colors that shift gently with the light, Beach Glass Benjamin Moore is worth sampling. It’s especially strong in bedrooms and bathrooms where you want a relaxed atmosphere.

If you’d like expert help narrowing down your choices, I offer virtual color consultations where I guide you through undertones, lighting, and cohesive whole-home palettes. You can learn more about working with me through A Season For Home. Let’s make sure your paint choice feels right every time you walk into the room.

The post Benjamin Moore Beach Glass Paint Color Review appeared first on A Season For Home.

As a certified color expert, I spend most of my days helping homeowners sift through endless paint chips and talking them off the ledge of second-guessing (because trust me, we’ve all been there). But my love for New England color didn’t start in a color studio. I grew up in a home on the Historic Registry, surrounded by quirky charm and old-house soul. And later, during our own multi-year Vermont farmhouse renovation, I learned just how transformative paint can be. The right color doesn’t just change a room,  it makes an older home feel warm, grounded, and true to its bones.

Over the years, I’ve noticed I return to the same tried-and-true hues again and again. Not because I’m stuck in a rut, but because these colors work beautifully with New England architecture and light. They feel timeless, cozy, and instantly welcoming. Today, I’m sharing those five go-to colors with you, plus the color principles behind why they’re so reliable.

Photo Credit: Crisp Architects

What Paint Colors Are Best for a New England Home?

You might be thinking, Why would paint colors behave differently here? I promise, they do. New England homes come with a special set of characteristics that influence how colors show up on your walls. Here’s what makes this region unique:

• Cooler, softer natural light. Many of my clients, especially those in rural areas, also get strong green reflections from surrounding woods, fields, and mountains especially in the summer months.
• Antique or unpainted wood tones. Older homes often feature warm, rich wood that plays beautifully with some colors and completely clashes with others. Add to that slate tile floors in the mudroom and brick fireplaces, and you have distinct russet browns and reddish earth tones that must be considered when picking paint colors.
• Classic architecture. Colonial lines, farmhouse bones, millwork, and low ceilings give older homes charm but can also create darker spaces. The right paint color can enhance this character instead of fighting against it.
• Major seasonal shifts. Summer sun washes colors out; winter brings cool shadows that make some hues look minty, dingy or muddy. The goal is to choose colors that ride these swings gracefully.
• Bright whites can fall flat. If clean modern whites feel harsh, sterile, or oddly gray in your home, you’re not imagining it. Luckily, there’s a workaround.
• Timeless New England style favors earthy, desaturated color. Ou color palette in New England is rooted in Colonial Pigments. As a result, low-chroma colors (aka dirty colors) and historically inspired hues feel naturally at home here (and no, you don’t have to stick to the “Historic” fan deck to get the look!)

With that foundation in mind, here are the five paint colors I recommend over and over for New England homes.

1. Warm, Creamy Off-Whites

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but one of my most reliable creamy off whites that looks gorgeous (even in the darkest spaces) is Sherwin Williams Dover White. This is the white paint I go to again and again for ceilings, trim and white walls.

Sherwin Williams Dover White. Photo Credit: @hatcliffconstruction

Why We Love Dover White By Sherwin Williams

• One of the biggest mistakes I made when we bought our 1790s farmhouse was painting the walls of our dark dining room White Dove by Benjamin Moore. What I didn’t know was that certain white paints look terrible in dark spaces! Silly me, I was just trying to brighten it up.
• What I learned in my Color Expert Certification traing is that this is a common misconception. In fact, bright whites can look flat or dingy in low light, but creamy whites glow in dark interiors with small windows or porches overhanging. Warm whites with yellow undertones can even handle the cool northern light we get in the winter!
• Now I know that Dover White is stunning in low light rooms. It has the same high LRV (83) as White Dove but carries more warmth, perfect for darker New England rooms.
• It plays beautifully with antique furniture, patina-rich wood, and traditional trim.
• While it isn’t stark, sterile, or overly yellow it also feels classic, cozy, and quietly historic.
• I highly suggest considering a warm off-white like Dover White as a softer alternative for trim when you want white but not builder-basic white.

Best for: Trim, ceiling and anywhere you want to use white. It looks great in foyers, on kitchen cabinets, living rooms, bedrooms and hallways.

2. Soft Beiges, Taupes & Warm Greiges

I feel like a broken record sometimes, but I will happily admit that Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground is one of my most recomended paint shades when coming up with clients home color combination . I literally cannot count the number of clients for whom I have specified this creamy warm neutral beige paint color!

But don’t run away when you hear me say “beige” this is much softer and lighter than the beige paints of yore. This is much lighter and not as intensely yellow of the beiges of the early 2000s.

Neutral Ground on The walls with darker contrast trim in a mudroom. Photo: @buildingacasehouse

Why It Works

• Neutral Ground handles both summer’s strong directional light and winter’s cool blue shadows.
• A higher LRV (70) brightens darker homes with low ceilings and small windows.
• Feels grounding and warm during long winter months.
• Doesn’t clash with earthy fixed elements like brick and antique floors.
• A perfect backdrop for the muted greens, reds, and blues often found in historic New England homes. Having a workhorse neutral like Neutral Ground is key when using an accented neutral scheme for interior design.

Best For: living rooms, dining rooms, parlors, historic trim moments

3. Earthy Sage Greens

Examples: Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray (shown above in my office) or Sherwin Williams Grassland

Why It Works

• Soft, muted, low-chroma greens feel naturally at home in New England’s landscapes and historic architecture.
• Timeless without drifting into “colonial kitsch.”
• Beautiful for cabinetry, wainscotting, and even exterior trim.
• Adds color while keeping the overall palette calm and refined.
• Looks great with muddy and complex undertones of fixed elements like stone, brick and aged wood.

Best For: mudrooms, kitchens, libraries, guest rooms

4. Dusty Gray-Blues

When I meet with my clients before our color consulting appointments, I always make sure to ask what colors they are drawn to. Three quarters of the time the answer is often greens or blues. When I sift back through the paint schedules I have created, these dusty blues come up time and time again.

Examples: Brewster Gray, Wales Gray, Templeton Gray, Puritan Gray (all Benjamin Moore)

Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore is a perfect example of a New England paint color that can be used on walls, trim or accents and always feels timeless.

Why It Works

• All of these above mentioned blue gray paint colors have enough weight for traditional millwork but stay soft and livable thanks to gentle graying.
• These mid tones vibe effortlessly with historic wood, clear old-growth pine planks, aged oak, even yellow-leaning maple.
• Look New England coastal, farmhouse, or traditional depending on your styling.
• I love these colors for reverse trim in spaces with lots of ornamental woodwork.

Best For: Stairwells with tons of woodwork, bathrooms, bedrooms, mudrooms, breezeways, Federal-era home’s foyers and stately home offices.

5. Earthy, Desaturated Reds (Brick Tones)

While red is not a paint color that comes to mind for most people, earthy brick colored pigments are traditional early New England and always look at home in the classic homes of the North East. I use these red paint colors in moderation for my paint schemes. The key is to use them for a pop of contrast!
Examples: Benjamin Moore Audubon Russet, Walnut and Boston Brick

A rusty red bench in a mudroom gives a pop of contrast. Photo: @sanfordcollectiveinteriors

Why It Works

• Browned, earthy reds with warm undertones feel rooted and authentic, never costume-y like blue or purple-leaning burgundies. I love those that look like they were created using natural pigments.
• Provide the “pop” most color schemes need while still looking natural and historic.
• Perfect for unexpected moments of charm: interior doors, stair risers, a kitchen island, or built-ins.
• Echo classic New England barn reds and brick tones.

Best For: front doors, dining rooms, interior doors, built-ins

How to Choose the Right Color for Your New England Home

Keep these principles in mind as you narrow your options:

• Pay attention to light direction, it changes everything. North facing rooms and those with small windows or low ceilings get less warm direct light and the colors will need to be adjusted accordingly.
• Consider your wood undertones, they’re part of the palette whether you want them to be or not. A lot of older wood floors and beams have orange tones which pair well with blues and greens but clash with taupes. Keep that in mind when you are picking your main neutral and your highlight colors.
• Look down. Your floors matter more than most people realize. As do the other fixed elements in your home including brick, stone and slate.
• Your personal style determines how muted or saturated you should go. While traditional New England colors are based on colonial era pigments, if you prefer a bit more saturation, the key is keeping it consistant throughtout your whole home palette.

The post The Essential New England Color Palette: 5 Foolproof Paint Colors for Classic Homes appeared first on A Season For Home.

Read on: I will go over all the ins and outs of color saturation and the number one mistake I see when homeowners make when it comes to picking paint colors. Hint: it has to do with saturation!

What Is Color Saturation?

Let’s talk about color saturation—the often misunderstood but incredibly important part of how we experience color in our homes. If you’ve ever brought home a paint chip that looked just right in the store, only to have it feel way too intense on your wall, there’s a good chance saturation played a role.

In this post, I’ll break down what saturation actually means, how it’s different from chroma (yes, they’re not the same), and why understanding it can help you feel more confident when choosing colors—whether you’re painting a room, putting together a mood board, or just trying to figure out why that “soft sage green” suddenly looks neon in your living room.

Definition Of Color Saturation: In plain English

Saturation refers to how intense or pure a color appears. High-saturation colors feel loud and full of life. Low-saturation colors are quieter and more complex. Neither is better—they just bring different things to a space.

As an artist, I describe it like this: The more of a single hue pigment you add to the base or paint medium the more you will increase the saturation.

How Saturation Affects the Feel of a Room

Color isn’t just visual—it’s emotional. And saturation plays a huge role in how a room feels:

• Highly saturated colors: In larger spaces, highly saturated colors can become tiring and seem unsophisticated or childish. However, in smaller amounts, like on accent walls or on furniture, these brighter hues can bring energy, playfulness, and boldness. Deeply saturated colors can work well in a powder rooms, in low lighting areas or featured in smaller amounts in kid’s space.
• Desaturated colors feel more sophisticated, subtle, and calming. They’re the go-to for living rooms, bedrooms, or anywhere you want to chill out.

How To Avoid The Most Common Paint Color Mistake

The most common paint mistake I see is someone picked out a paint color by using a paint chip, but once it was on the wall, it was either way too bright or a totally different color than they thought.

The reason this happens is that paint chips are super deceiving! It’s not our fault. Our brains are wired to ignore subtle things and notice obvious things. It’s true! This being the case we go straight for the brighter colors and have a really hard time seeing subtleties in low-saturation paint. That’s how we end up grabbing a paint chip that is more saturated than we want.

To avoid this mistake, we have to trick our brains! To do this, we compare colors so we are able to pick up the underlying hues. Once our brains are attuned to the colors undertones, we can then more easily picture how it will look at a larger scale.

Case Study: Picking a Blue Paint Color

Let’s look at an example. Let’s say you wanted to paint your living room a lovely historical blue paint color. So you pull out the Benjamin Moore Historical collection and flip to the blue section. You spot “Whipple Blue” and think, oh that’s pretty.

Friends, do not paint your living room with this color. Whipple is more saturated than the look you really want. Trust me.

Whipple Blue Room

The problem is, when you see it on the fan deck, the Whipple Blue is making all the other colors around it seem gray by comparison. As I said, our brains are wired to do this so it is not your fault!

Instead, you have to look at much more grayed out colors and study them systematically. For example, look at Brewster Gray in the image below.

When we grabbed the fan deck we totally overlooked this color because our brains say “gray” not “blue.” Right?

Wrong: Brewster Gray is not gray my friends, it is blue. You can see this fact by comparing it to other colors. I’ll show you three examples:

Example 1: Compare it first to my favorite neutral gray, Repose Gray from Sherwin Williams. Here you can clearly see that Brewster is a blue with green undertones.

Example 2: Next, place it side by side with a color from the opposite side of the color wheel and you will see its true blue nature. Here next to Cappuccino Muffin the Brewster Gray appears like a dusty blue shade.

Example 3: You can also look at it compared to a similar color with a similar value and saturation but in a slightly different hue. When compared to a slightly greener color you can also tell how blue this paint is.

Above you can see how Brewster Gray appears when it is used in large amounts. It is decidedly NOT gray at all but actually a gorgeous historical blue color. Read more about Brewster Gray and see more photos of how I used it in my home.

Tips for Choosing the Right Saturation in Your Space

If you’re trying to figure out which version of a color will work best in your home, keep these tips in mind:

• Consider Low and Artificial Lighting. Our eyes are more sensitive to the nuances of color in natural light. Meanwhile, low or warm artificial light tends to limit the perceived spectrum. If you are only going to use a space at night (like a TV room or den) then test out a more deeply saturated paint color. This will compensate for the dull artificial light and give you the look you want, even if you mostly use a space at night.
• Exteriors Need More Saturation: Natural daylight washes out exterior paint colors. That’s why I tell my Color Consulting clients to test out a range of colors including a few shades darker and some that are more saturated. Try one of our favorite greens for exteriors.
• Watch for undertones. Even muted colors have a temperature—some lean warm (like a soft greige), others cool (like a dusty blue). Saturation and undertone work together, and getting the balance right makes a huge difference. Read more about color temperature here.
• Pair thoughtfully. High- and low-saturation colors can work beautifully together—but you want contrast to feel intentional. Try pairing a bold terra cotta with a soft, chalky pink rather than two almost-the-same tones.
• Think about the room’s function: Want energy and creativity? Lean higher. Want calm and relaxation? Go lower. But remember with highly saturated colors, less is more. Think feature wall- not color drenching!
• Call In The Experts: Hire a color consultant for a virtual color consultation. Paint brands like Sherwin-Williams and Farrow & Ball often have collections that show the same hue across a range of saturation levels. These are goldmines for seeing how subtle shifts can change everything.

In Closing… Saturation Is the Secret Sauce

Color saturation might not be the first thing you think about when you’re choosing a paint color—but once you get the hang of it, it can totally transform how you approach color. It’s the secret sauce that makes a space feel intentional, harmonious, and, most importantly, you.

If you want more tips on reading paint chips, understanding undertones, or building a palette with confidence, stick around—or reach out for a virtual color consult. I’d love to help you see color in a whole new way.

The post Color Saturation appeared first on A Season For Home.

undertone and Chroma of Brewster Gray

Brewster Gray is a medium blue paint with a low chroma level and a green undertone. Chroma refers to how pure the hue of a paint color is.

Brewster Gray has a primary hue of blue. It diverges from this primary hue in two ways, one it is grayed out considerably (see above where it falls on the color chart) and two, it is slightly green. The results are that this paint color isn’t garish or childish, and has complex leanings connoting historical pigments and colonial roots.

When I compared paint colors for our foyer, I narrowed it down to several shades of blue-gray and ended up on Brewster because it was decidedly blue (NOT gray) and yet it has such a low chroma level, it would fit perfectly with the vibe of our antique woodwork.

Where To Use BM Brewster Gray In Your Home

Brewster gray is one of those rare birds of a paint color that can work virtually anywhere. Somehow it is able to work on walls, trim, exteriors and details! Heck I could even see using it as a decking color on a porch! Here are some ways I recommend it:

• Trim Work: This is how I’ve used it. In our home our white trim went from boring to “hello gorgeous” once it was painted in this shade of blue. The light and shadow this moody blue creates is simply stunning!
• Walls: Trends are moving toward color and Brewster Gray is here for it! This color is simply stunning for a peaceful bedroom wall color or for a very grown-up spa-like bathroom with marble tiles and counters.
• Furniture and Cabinets: If you have a furniture piece that needs a serious makeover, try this paint instead of stripping and refinishing. It would be great on a pair of bedside tables in a blue and white bedroom for the coastal grandmother aesthetic. You can also use it to paint your kitchen or bath cabinets. Try it on your kitchen island for a pop of classic color in a mostly white and neutral kitchen.
• Exteriors: This blue paint is a deep enough shade to hold up to direct sunlight without getting washed out. Try it on clapboards for a cottage look or use it on a front door or accents (like shutters, lattice and railings.)
• Color Drenching: This color is practically begging you to color drench a room ceiling to baseboard. It is the perfect LRV for color drenching which works best in dark tones. Try it in a small bathroom and add brass accents for warmth.

What White To Pair With Brewster Gray Benjamin Moore

This paint color is one where you can use a cool white, warm white, or pure white and you will be happy with whatever you choose!

Off Whites To Pair With HC-162

Brewster Gray is a low chroma color so it goes great with offwhite paint colors like Whitetail by Sherwin Williams (my current white paint color obsession.) I also like it with a grayed white like Grandma’s China CSP-365 or Intense White OC-51 which is muted and sophisticated.

Cool or Bright Whites With Brewster Gray

You can also pair it with a blue-toned white like Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore, because it is a blue paint! You can also go with a more stark white like Chantilly Lace. Both of these are great option for modern interiors and for those of you who want a strong contrast and a crisp look. Try samples of my favorite cool and bright whites from Samplize (affiliate link.)

Warm Whites For Brewster Gray

Since this paint is low chroma and does have a touch of green, it can also go with warm whites for trim and ceilings. This is helpful if you’ve chosen a whole house white for all your trim and ceilings like Alabaster from Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore White Dove OC017 (which is what I have on my ceiling.) Or try one of my favorite warm whites(also an affiliate link.)

Read more about pairing whites for trim and ceiling here.

Other Blue Gray Paint Colors To Consider

While Brewster Gray was the color I landed on for our first floor foyer and grand entry hall, I had to rule out several other gray blue paints first. And I recommend you do the same. Lighting and the fixed elements in your space will influence the way this paint looks for your home. Below are some other Benjamin Moore Gray Blue Paints to try and how they compare to Brewster Gray:

• Gibraltar Cliffs: Almost identical but has a whisper more white pigment in it and has an LRV of 31 (two shades lighter.)
• Puritan Gray: Less saturated than Brewster, this paint will appear more gray. It also has a bit more green in it and will look nice with warmer fixed elements like brick or warm stone.
• Cloudy Sky: For someone who wants a bluer feel than Brewster look at Cloudy Sky. This is a more saturated blue hue and slightly lighter so will appear more classically blue. I think this is a slightly more contemporary look which somewhat limits the diversity of applications where it would be appropriate.
• Templeton Gray: A gorgeous alternative with stronger depth and saturation. It is more deeply blue, but is darker too, so it doesn’t come off as too sweetly blue. This color is simply stunning for exteriors, cabinetry, millwork and furniture.
• Stonybrook: This is like Puritan Grays sister just slightly darker. It is greener than Brewster Gray and a bit less saturated but almost the same LRV (half a shade off.)
• Whale Gray: This blue is cooler and less saturated at the same time. Meaning it is further toward a true blue, but it is not deeply pigmented. It is also several shades darker. I like this paint a lot for classically styled homes, contrast trim and moody millwork.
• Water’s Edge: Also known as Van Courtland Blue, this tone is more blue (decidedly so), lighter and more saturated so if you do not have much natural light, you may prefer this shade over Brewster Gray.
• Sweatshirt Gray: This blue pulls further on the scale toward true blue yet is less saturated so if you want a slightly cooler shade than Brewster Gray, try Sweatshirt Gray instead.

SAMPLE THESE BLUE GRAY COLORS NOW– Click here to buy large samples on Samplize. As a Samplize affiliate, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I recommend buying large-scale samples of the colors you try to look at them in your space before heading to the paint store. You can move the samples around the room and and see how the light reacts with the paint color on different walls. From there you can purchase small containers of one or two favorites to brush out.

Coordinating Colors For Brewster Gray

Exterior Color Pairing

For an exterior, use Brewster Gray as the main color. Use a white with a touch of blue in it like Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray HC-171 on the trim. For the shutters and doors a black with blue undertones like Witching Hour 2120-30 from Benjamin Moore. See my mockup below of how that combo comes out.

brewster Gray Whole House Palette

For interior spaces, this color can be part of a gorgeous, earthy, low-chroma palette like the one I created here. This is just a sampling, and it is also really great with burnt rusty oranges and peaches as well!

• Slumber Sloth: I’d choose this Sherwin-Williams color for any large open concept spaces as it goes with everything and is a great team player. It is part of my favorite Minimalist Color Collection of neutral paint colors. Likewise, Brewster Gray could easily fit into this color palette for Accessible Beige which has a similar warmth without yellow.
• Relaxed Khaki and Baffin Island: Brewster Gray looks so good with golden khaki colors with a touch of green in them. Two favorites of mine are Relaxed Khaki by Sherwin-Williams and Baffin Island by Benjamin Moore. Both of these have a touch of green in their undertone which goes well with the warm green tones in Brewster! Look at Wool Skein if you need a lighter khaki option.
• Raintree Green: Blues and greens are so good together. The key is finding one with a similar value and chroma so they stay in harmony. I use Benjamin Moore Raintree Green with Brewster Gray for this effect.
• White Duck: Off-whites with a good amount of gray and cream go so well with this paint. It is an absolutely classic timeless look. White Duck from Sherwin Williams is one of my go-to off white paint colors. I use it over and over again! Natural Cream is another greige to look at too.

• Cottagecore Color Palette
• What’s The Best Neutral Paint Color For Walls
• Coastal Color Palette For A New England Style Home
• Picking The Best Home Color Combination: 5 Top Tips
• Yellow Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

The post Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore: The perfect Blue Gray Paint Color appeared first on A Season For Home.