THE
T H E C OLOR H A N D BOO K
COLOR
HANDBOOK
A Guide to Selecting Color
CHOOSING
YOUR COLOR
Color really does make the room.
The perfect shade and finish can enlarge a
small space, bring in more light, or deliver
that kick of energy you need with your
morning coffee. But finding the right one?
Now that’s another story.
Thankfully, a few guidelines can ease
Using several shades of the process. After all, you want to love the
one hue will unify a space colors you live with.
visually. A monochromatic
scheme is a good choice in
a room that’s broken up
by shelving, trim, and doors.
BOOKCASE: Lucerne AF-530,
ADVANCE®, Semi-Gloss
DOOR: Soot 2129-20, Aura®
Grand Entrance®, Satin
BACK OF SHELVES: Exhale
AF-515, Regal® Select, Matte
Nothing clears your
head like an all-white
room. A soothing
palette of white, cream,
and off-white creates
a calm, airy backdrop
and will highlight
the play of light across
every surface, making
the space feel bigger
and brighter.
WALLS: Lancaster
Whitewash HC-174, Aura®,
Eggshell TRIM: Swiss Coffee
OC- 45, Aura® Semi-Gloss
CEILING: Chantilly Lace
OC- 65, Waterborne
Ceiling Paint, Ultra Flat
Grayed-down pales
often play well together.
Here, a neutral gray
alcove distinguishes itself
LOOKING FOR A
against a pale blue room. PLACE TO START?
Dividing colors into three simple categories—
pales, neutrals, and deeps—is an easy way to make the
magnificent spectrum a little more manageable.
PALES
LIGHT AND AIRY COMBINATIONS
TO UPLIF T YOU
Ballet pink, dusty lavender, washed out blue—a gentle,
pale palette is versatile and easy to live with. If a pale color starts
to look too sugary sweet, just tone it down with a little gray.
NEUTRALS
NATURAL COMBINATIONS
TO KEEP YOU GROUNDED
Slate, clay, sand, ochre—neutrals go far beyond gray and brown.
These colors of the earth are real shape-shifters. To combine
neutrals, look for its undertone—is it warm or cool—and keep
its partner in the same family.
DEEPS
MYSTERIOUS COMBINATIONS
TO INTRIGUE YOU
NEAR WALL: Palladian Blue Violet, onyx, sapphire, ruby—these confident colors create
HC-144, Natura®, Eggshell
ALCOVE: Sag Harbor Gray
instant character and dominate a room. They dissolve boundaries
HC-95, Natura®, Eggshell and edges, creating intimacy and the perception of depth.
TRIM: Swiss Coffee OC-45,
Natura®, Semi-Gloss
Many neutrals have Spaces you use
a chameleon-like quality, occasionally, like a library
shifting in color slightly or powder room, can
with changing light, provide the perfect
making them a good choice opportunity to go bold.bold
for kitchens and other
rooms used throughout
the day.
WALLS: Fernwood Green
2145-40, Regal® Select, Eggshell WALLS: Chambourd
DOORS: Witching Hour AF-645, Aura®, Matte
2120-30, Aura® Grand Entrance®, MANTEL: Smoke Gray
Satin CABINETS: Flora AF-470, 2120-40, ADVANCE®,
ADVANCE®, Satin Satin
DIRECT SUNLIGHT
THE THEATER OF LIGHT
OVERCAST DAYLIGHT ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
Color is site-specific. That’s why you should always try
out a shade in the space and view it at different times of
the day before committing. A pale pink room will look
gleaming in the direct sunlight of a south-facing room, and
cooler and more muted in indirect northern light.
Time of day matters, too. Bright midday sun will wash
out most pale hues (left) that will be flattered by softer,
indirect illumination (above, left), while artificial light will
add a warm glow to the wall color (above, right).
WALLS: Dream Whip 2174-60,
Regal® Select, Matte
WAINSCOTING: Mascarpone
AF-20, Regal® Select, Eggshell
SHEEN Don’t shy away from sheen—trust us, it can work A glossy finish lightens up a
magic on a room. Painting the walls with a gloss will add dimension and dark hue, multiplying the flicker
levity. Or try a semi-gloss on a low ceiling—it will move light around the and romance of candlelight or
space and create the illusion of height. Just remember: Shiny finishes the glow of a street lamp outside
look best on smooth, clean surfaces while matte or flat paints are the most the window.
forgiving of imperfections, so choose your surface wisely.
WALLS: Cloud
White OC-130,
Aura®, Semi-
Gloss TRIM: Cloud
White OC-130,
ADVANCE®,
High Gloss
WALLS AND TRIM:
Newburyport Blue
HC- 155, Aura®,
Semi-Gloss
To make a statement
and draw the eye
through the house,
use a bold hue at ROOM THROUGH
one end of a room-
to-room view. ROOM
LEFT WALL:
Azores AF-495,
ben®, Eggshell
MANTEL: Ashley
Gray HC-87, ben®,
Eggshell RIGHT
WALL: Gloucester
Sage HC-100, ben®,
Eggshell
In an open-plan home, use different colors to define
different spaces and highlight interesting architecture.
FAR WALL: Dinner Party AF-300, But always keep the big picture in mind. The simplest way
Regal® Select, Semi-Gloss
FAR DOORS: Dinner Party AF-300,
to keep things harmonious, is to combine shades of the
Aura® Grand Entrance ®, High Gloss same color—or similar tones—from room to room.
MID WALL, UPPER AREA: Onyx
White OC-74, Regal® Select, Eggshell
LOWER AREA: Chantilly Lace
OC-65, Regal® Select, Semi-Gloss
MID AND NEAR DOORS: Chantilly
Lace OC-65, Aura® Grand Entrance®,
Satin NEAR WALL: Mt. Rainier Gray
2129-60, Regal® Select, Eggshell
WHOEVER SAID
TRIM HAD TO BE
WHITE OR CREAM?
ROOM-DEFINING
Switch things up by
pairing neutral walls
TRIM
with a colored trim.
Or for an extra-crisp BASE MOLDING:
Green Grove 2138-20,
effect, try jet-black. Regal® Select, Semi-
Gloss LOWER WALL:
The role reversal will Briarwood HC-175,
Regal® Select, Matte
showcase a room’s UPPER WALL: Bleeker
Beige HC-80, Regal®
unique architecture. Select, Matte
WALLS: Frostine AF-5,
Regal® Select, Eggshell
WAINSCOTING AND
TRIM: Frostine AF-5,
Regal® Select, Semi-Gloss
ACCENT TRIM: Black
Satin 2131-10, Regal®
Select, Semi-Gloss
DOOR: Frostine AF-5,
Aura® Grand Entrance ®,
Satin
Create architectural interest by painting
the walls with different shades of one color.
Keep the darker hue closer to the bottom
for an ombre effect.
OUR
FAVORITE
1 2 3
COLOR
COMBINATIONS
Coming up with the
right color palette can be
tough, so we’ve put together 7 8 9
some tried-and-true trios
that strike a chord. Try the
top color on the walls,
the middle shade on trim,
door or ceiling, and the
third hue as an accent
in accessories, fabric or on
painted furniture.
13 14 15
1. MAIN COLOR: 10. MAIN COLOR:
Porcelain 2113-60 Cranberry Cocktail 2083-20
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Filtered Sunlight 2154-60 Oxford Gray 2128-40
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Appalachian Brown 2115-10 Lily White 2128-70
2. MAIN COLOR: 11. MAIN COLOR:
Coral Essence 2007-40 Revere Pewter HC-172
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Old Navy 2063-10 Straw 2154-50
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Fountain Spout 2059-70 Amherst Gray HC-167
3. MAIN COLOR: 12. MAIN COLOR:
4 5 6 Louisburg Green HC-113 Montpelier AF-555
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Lancaster Whitewash HC-174 Prescott Green HC-140
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Tangy Orange 2014-30 Apricot Ice 2015-70
4. MAIN COLOR: 13. MAIN COLOR:
Blue Angel 2058-70 Bronze Tone 2166-30
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Arctic Blue 2050-60 Mayonnaise 2152-70
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Sea Foam 2123-60 Soot 2129-20
5. MAIN COLOR: 14. MAIN COLOR:
Mississippi Mud 2114-20 Purple Lotus 2072-30
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Grant Beige HC-83 Stuart Gold HC-10
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Dream Whip 2174-60 Witching Hour 2120-30
6. MAIN COLOR: 15. MAIN COLOR:
10 11 12 Windmill Wings 2067-60 Cement Gray 2112-60
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Chelsea Gray HC-168 Fruit Shake 2088-60
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Simply White OC-117 Witching Hour 2120-30
7. MAIN COLOR: 16. MAIN COLOR:
Million Dollar Red 2003-10 Atmospheric AF-500
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Wedgewood Gray HC-146 Old Prairie 2143-50
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Bittersweet Chocolate 2114-10 Beacon Hill Damask HC-2
8. MAIN COLOR: 17. MAIN COLOR:
Gray Owl 2137-60 Ebony Slate 2118-30
1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Pale Vista 2029-60 Lavender Mist 2070-60
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Cedar Green 2034-40 Chantilly Lace OC-65
9. MAIN COLOR: 18. MAIN COLOR:
Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 Teal Ocean 2049-30
16 17 18 1ST ACCENT COLOR: 1ST ACCENT COLOR:
Hibiscus 2027-50 Hawthorne Yellow HC-4
2ND ACCENT COLOR: 2ND ACCENT COLOR:
Dark Linen 2147-60 Simply White OC-117
COLOR BASICS Take a moment to study the color wheel. The science is all
in this circle — warm reds, yellows, and oranges congregate TEST DRIVE
Primary Colors
Red, yellow, blue —these core colors
on one side while cool lavenders, blues, and greens are on the
other. Creating a palette within one half of the wheel tends
YOUR COLOR
form the spokes of the wheel, mixing to be more harmonious. But pairing two colors that stand
Before you commit, buy a pint sample
and matching to create every other opposite one another can add a dash of invigorating tension.
so you can see how the color looks in
shade on the spectrum. Alone, they can Which do you prefer?
the actual room. Paint a board, place in
be too strong to use. Take these super different parts of the room and watch
saturated hues down a notch with a hint how the color changes throughout
of gray or white to make them more the day. Does it grow bright and airy
approachable. in the morning and then sepia-toned
near dusk? Does it take on the tone of
Complementary Colors something out the window?
Color pairings from opposite sides of the
wheel have serious chemistry. Choose Live with it a little. This way, you
one shade for the walls and use a small can find the color that works for you,
amount of its complementary hue as morning to night.
an accent on trim, doors, or a piece of
furniture. Like any great couple, they’ll
each play up the other’s strengths.
Secondary and Tertiary Colors
The secondary and tertiary colors round
out the color wheel with varying degrees
of complexity. Orange, green and violet
are secondary colors made by combining
two primary hues, while tertiary colors are
the middlemen between the primary and
secondary colors. Together, the relationships
on the color wheel offer endless options.
M2450863
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©2019, 2020 Benjamin Moore & Co. ADVANCE, Aura, ben, Benjamin Moore, Color Selection Simplified, Grand Entrance, Natura, Regal, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co.
All other marks are the property of their respective owner. Printed in the USA. Color accuracy is ensured only when tinted in quality Benjamin Moore paints. Color representation may differ slightly from actual paint.
