27 Best Benjamin Moore Colors & Products: Pro Review
Benjamin Moore is widely regarded as a leader in the paint industry, synonymous with deep, rich colors and superior durability that professional painters and design enthusiasts swear by. This reputation isn’t accidental; it’s built on decades of innovative color science and proprietary technologies designed to deliver flawless results that stand the test of time. Choosing the right paint is crucial for any home project, as it affects both the immediate aesthetic appeal and the long-term value of your space.
Navigating the various product lines and thousands of color choices can feel overwhelming, but understanding the core differences will help you make a confident decision. This comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know, from the brand’s flagship products like Aura and Regal Select to essential color-matching tips and preparation techniques. Whether you’re undertaking a full home remodel or simply refreshing a single room, let this guide be your essential resource for mastering the world of Benjamin Moore paints.
Understanding the Value of Benjamin Moore Premium Paint
The premium price point associated with Benjamin Moore products is directly tied to the superior ingredients and advanced manufacturing processes used in every can. Unlike budget alternatives, these formulations often use higher-quality resins and colorants, which translate into better coverage, richer color saturation, and a more durable final finish. This quality means fewer coats are required, saving you significant time and effort on larger painting jobs.
Furthermore, the brand invests heavily in color science, ensuring that its massive library of hues is consistent and accurate across different bases and sheens. Their proprietary Gennex Color Technology, for instance, allows their tints to be virtually zero-VOC, even when vibrant colors are mixed, offering a healthier, safer painting experience. This dedication to both performance and purity solidifies the reason why many professionals consider Benjamin Moore an investment, not just an expense, for lasting beauty.
27 Essential Benjamin Moore Ideas, Colors, and Products
Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
Choosing the perfect white is perhaps the most challenging color decision, as subtle undertones can drastically shift the room’s atmosphere. Popular shades like “Chantilly Lace” are clean and crisp with almost no discernible undertones, making them universal choices for trim and modern interiors. Conversely, “White Dove” offers a slightly warmer, softer look that pairs beautifully with traditional decor and natural wood accents.
The best white for your space often depends heavily on the direction your windows face and the quality of natural light it receives throughout the day. Always test large swatches in the room itself, observing how the color shifts from morning sunlight to evening lamplight before committing to a final gallon. Getting the right white from Benjamin Moore can transform a space from dull to dazzling.
Aura Interior Paint Performance Review
Aura is the flagship, high-end interior line from Benjamin Moore, celebrated for its incredible hiding power and unmatched color depth. It features Color Lock Technology, which essentially bonds the pigment to the paint film, making the color highly resistant to washing off, fading, or rubbing, even in dark shades. This often allows for true one-coat coverage over existing colors, drastically reducing project time.
Due to its advanced resin technology, Aura offers exceptional durability and washability, making it ideal for busy areas like hallways, kitchens, and children’s rooms. While it carries a premium price tag, many professionals argue that the time saved on applying fewer coats and the longevity of the finish make Aura the most cost-effective choice in the long run.
Comparing Benjamin Moore to Sherwin-Williams
While both brands dominate the premium paint market, they have distinct characteristics that differentiate their core product offerings and color palettes. Benjamin Moore is often praised for its refined, complex colors and buttery application, with many designers preferring their subtle, nuanced neutrals and historical collections. They operate primarily through independent retailers, offering localized expertise.
Sherwin-Williams, on the other hand, is known for its strong line of products tailored specifically for contractors and has a slightly larger retail footprint. When comparing specific product tiers, like Aura to Emerald, the differences often come down to personal preference regarding flow, sheen, and the depth of the color achieved by the specific brand’s colorants.
Advance Paint for Kitchen Cabinetry
The Advance line is a self-leveling, waterborne alkyd paint specifically formulated to achieve the hard, smooth, and furniture-like finish typically associated with traditional oil paints. This makes it the undisputed choice among professionals for painting interior trim, doors, and, most notably, kitchen cabinetry. Its superior flow allows brush and roller marks to virtually disappear during the drying process.
Because Advance is an alkyd, it requires an extended cure time, meaning cabinets should not be subjected to heavy use for a few weeks after application to allow maximum hardness to develop. However, this patience is rewarded with an incredibly durable, stain-resistant finish that looks factory-applied and holds up well against the daily rigors of a busy kitchen environment.
Regal Select Paint Durability and Finish
Regal Select is considered the workhorse product line for Benjamin Moore, positioned as a high-quality, mid-to-upper-tier option that balances exceptional performance with a more accessible price point than Aura. It is particularly popular for its excellent hide, smooth application, and durability, often becoming the go-to paint for general interior walls.
This line is formulated with proprietary stain-release technology, enhancing its washability and resistance to scuffs and marks, making it highly suitable for living rooms and bedrooms. Regal Select provides a fantastic balance of rich color, ease of use, and a robust final film, making it an excellent value for homeowners seeking professional-grade results.
The Historical Color Collection Breakdown
The Historical Collection is a curated palette of 191 colors inspired by colonial American architecture and 18th- and 19th-century sites across the country. These colors are known for their timeless quality and slightly muted, sophisticated appearance, making them perfect for creating classic, enduring interiors and exteriors.
These shades often have complex undertones that respond beautifully to different lighting conditions, lending historical depth and authenticity to a modern home. Using colors from this collection is a fantastic way to ensure your design choices remain elegant and relevant for years, anchoring your space with a sense of refined heritage.
Choosing the Right Sheen and Finish
The sheen you select dramatically impacts the paint’s appearance, durability, and how easily the surface can be cleaned. Flat and Matte finishes offer the least light reflection, effectively hiding minor wall imperfections and providing a very sophisticated, velvety look, but they are generally less washable.
Higher sheens, such as Eggshell, Pearl (or Satin), and Semi-Gloss, increase in durability and reflectivity, with Semi-Gloss being the standard for trim, doors, and wet areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms. Eggshell is the most common choice for walls today, offering a subtle glow and good washability without being overly shiny.
Most Popular Benjamin Moore Gray Shades
Gray continues to be a foundational color in modern design, and Benjamin Moore offers an expansive range that expertly captures every nuance of the hue. “Revere Pewter” remains an iconic choice, famous for its perfect “greige” balance—a warm gray that shifts elegantly between gray and beige depending on the light.
For those preferring a cooler, more contemporary feel, “Stonington Gray” is a popular option that leans distinctly gray with subtle blue undertones. When selecting a gray, paying close attention to the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) and the hidden undertones (blue, green, or purple) is essential to ensure it doesn’t clash with existing fixtures.
Deep Base Colors and Coverage Challenges
When selecting very deep, saturated colors, like dark charcoal, navy, or deep forest green, you must understand that the paint will be mixed using a specialized “deep base.” This base contains less titanium dioxide, the primary pigment that provides opacity in lighter colors, allowing the intense colorant to dominate.
Because of this necessary formulation, deep base colors naturally require more coats—often three or even four—to achieve full, even coverage without any streaking or patchiness. Using a tinted primer, preferably one tinted to 75% of the final color, is a crucial step to improve hide and minimize the number of topcoats required for a perfect finish.
Eco-Friendly and Zero-VOC Options
Benjamin Moore is dedicated to providing healthier choices, primarily through their line of low- and zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints, which emit fewer pollutants into the air. Products like Natura and Eco Spec are specifically designed for maximum sustainability and minimal odor, making them ideal for nurseries, schools, and homes with sensitivity to strong chemicals.
Even the standard colorant system, Gennex Technology, ensures that adding color to virtually any base product maintains low-VOC status, a significant advantage over competitors whose colorants can often negate the low-VOC claims of the base paint. This commitment allows you to achieve stunning color results without compromising indoor air quality.
Paint Preparation Tips for Optimal Results
No matter how high-quality the paint, poor preparation will always compromise the final result and the longevity of the finish. The preparation phase is arguably the most critical step in any successful painting project, especially when using premium products like those from Benjamin Moore. Start by thoroughly cleaning all surfaces to remove grease, dirt, and dust.
Next, patch all holes and sand down any rough or uneven areas, feathering the edges carefully for a seamless look. Finally, proper use of painter’s tape and drop cloths protects surrounding surfaces and ensures a sharp, professional-looking line where colors or materials meet.
Matching Paint Colors to Natural Light
Natural light sources—North, South, East, and West—have a profound effect on how paint colors are perceived in a room throughout the day. North-facing rooms receive cool, blue-gray light, which tends to make colors appear duller or slightly grayish, so selecting warmer colors helps balance this out.
South-facing rooms are flooded with warm, golden light all day, which enhances warm tones and can make cool colors appear balanced. East- and West-facing rooms experience the most dramatic shifts, with light changing from warm to cool depending on the time of day, so neutral colors often perform well in these transitional spaces.
Color Consultation Services Explained
For those struggling to choose from the immense color selection, Benjamin Moore offers professional color consultation services, often provided through their authorized retailers or certified independent designers. These specialists are trained to understand the relationship between color, light, and space, offering personalized recommendations tailored to your home’s unique characteristics.
A consultant can help you narrow down options by considering existing flooring, furniture, and fixed elements, ensuring the final color palette creates a cohesive and harmonious flow throughout your residence. Investing in this service can save significant time and money by eliminating costly mistakes and providing confidence in your final selection.
Custom Color Matching Process
While the standard Benjamin Moore color library is vast, sometimes a custom match is required, perhaps to replicate a fabric swatch, a piece of artwork, or a specific shade from an unrelated brand. Their retailers are equipped with advanced spectrophotometer technology that can analyze the spectral signature of the sample you provide.
The computer then suggests a custom formula using the brand’s proprietary colorants to replicate the target hue as closely as possible. It is important to note that a perfect match is never guaranteed, as sheen and surface texture play a role, but the technology used by Benjamin Moore achieves some of the most accurate custom matches in the industry.
Selecting Exterior Paint and Stain Products
Painting an exterior involves dealing with extreme weather, UV exposure, and moisture, necessitating highly durable and resilient products. The Benjamin Moore Exterior line, including the highly rated Regal Select Exterior High Build, is formulated to resist fading, chalking, cracking, and blistering, maintaining its curb appeal for years.
For wood decks, siding, and fences, their specialized exterior stains, such as Arborcoat, offer deep penetration and robust protection while allowing the wood grain to remain visible. Selecting the right exterior product requires matching the formulation not only to the desired color but also to the substrate material and regional climate conditions for maximum longevity.
Troubleshooting Common Paint Application Issues
Even experienced DIYers can encounter application problems like lap marks, brush streaks, or flashing (uneven sheen). Lap marks often occur when painting too slowly, allowing the edge of a section to dry before the new section is applied, a problem particularly noticeable with faster-drying paints.
To troubleshoot, always maintain a wet edge, working quickly and overlapping sections while the paint is still fluid. Flashing is frequently caused by uneven application or painting in extremely high heat or direct sunlight, which causes the paint to dry too rapidly, highlighting variations in the film thickness.
Understanding Paint Coverage and Gallon Estimates
Calculating the correct amount of paint is essential for efficiency and budget control. A single gallon of standard Benjamin Moore paint typically covers approximately 350 to 400 square feet per coat on a smooth surface. However, this coverage rate is significantly reduced when painting textured surfaces or using highly saturated, deep-base colors.
Always measure the dimensions of the area to be painted, subtract any non-painted areas like windows and doors, and divide the total square footage by the paint’s listed coverage rate to determine the number of gallons needed for one coat. Since most projects require two coats (plus primer), double this initial estimate to ensure you purchase enough material.
Best Benjamin Moore Colors for Small Spaces
In small rooms, color can be strategically used to manipulate the perception of space. Light, cool colors like soft blues, pale greens, and delicate grays tend to recede, making walls feel further away and thus expanding the visual size of the room. These colors are highly effective when paired with bright white trim.
Another popular technique for small rooms is using a deep, dramatic color in a flat finish. Counterintuitively, a deep shade can blur the edges of the room, creating an enveloping, sophisticated jewel-box effect that removes the focus from the room’s small dimensions and instead highlights its intimacy.
Studio Finishes Specialty Products
The Studio Finishes collection encompasses a range of specialized decorative products designed to add unique texture, luster, and dimension to interior spaces beyond standard wall finishes. This includes items like metallic glazes, shimmering pearlescent finishes, and faux-finish products that can mimic the look of patinated copper or textured stucco.
These specialty products are often used sparingly to create stunning accent walls, ceilings, or architectural features that serve as focal points in a room. Using Studio Finishes allows designers and homeowners to introduce bespoke visual interest and creative flair that elevates the project beyond a simple color change.
Water-Based vs. Oil-Based Formulations
Historically, oil-based (alkyd) paints were favored for their hard, durable finish and superior flow, particularly on trim and doors, but they contain high VOCs and require mineral spirits for cleanup. Modern water-based (latex) paints, like most offerings from Benjamin Moore, have largely surpassed oil in performance and environmental safety.
Modern waterborne alkyds, such as the Advance line, successfully bridge this gap, offering the flow and hard finish of traditional oil paints but with soap-and-water cleanup and low VOC content. For most interior applications today, a premium water-based product provides the best balance of health, cleanup, and durability.
How to Use Benjamin Moore Color Samples
Color samples, typically available as small pots of paint or large peel-and-stick swatches, are indispensable tools in the color selection process and should never be skipped. Never judge a color based solely on the tiny chip at the store; it will look drastically different on a large surface under real-world lighting conditions.
When using paint pots, paint two coats on a large poster board (at least 2’x2’) and move it around the room throughout the day, viewing it against various light sources and different walls. Peel-and-stick samples, while more convenient, also allow you to observe the color’s interaction with the environment without committing paint directly to the wall.
Selecting the Right Primer for Different Surfaces
Primer is the critical foundation layer that prepares the substrate for the final paint coats, ensuring maximum adhesion, even coverage, and true color representation. Benjamin Moore offers specific primers tailored to different needs, such as Fresh Start primers for new drywall or previously painted surfaces.
For challenging surfaces like bare wood, galvanized metal, or surfaces stained with smoke or water damage, a specialty primer like the Insl-X STIX Acrylic Waterborne Bonding Primer or an oil-based stain blocker is essential. Always choose the primer that addresses the specific condition and material of the surface you are painting for optimal results.
Hale Navy vs. Other Dark Blue Paints
“Hale Navy” HC-154 is one of Benjamin Moore’s most iconic and beloved dark blue colors, famous for its deep, highly saturated, and timeless quality that works equally well indoors or out. What sets it apart is its ability to remain firmly blue without pulling excessive purple or green undertones, which can be common in other navy shades.
Other popular contenders, like “Gentleman’s Gray,” often have more noticeable green undertones, while “Newburyport Blue” is a shade lighter and less intense. Hale Navy’s classic character and versatility, pairing effortlessly with both crisp whites and rich wood tones, have secured its position as a contemporary design staple.
Caring for and Cleaning Painted Surfaces
Proper care of surfaces painted with high-quality Benjamin Moore products ensures their finish remains vibrant and flawless for years. For everyday cleaning, gentle methods are key; dust surfaces regularly with a soft cloth and wipe down marks using a soft sponge dampened with water and a tiny amount of mild, non-abrasive soap.
It is crucial to avoid highly aggressive chemical cleaners, abrasive scrub brushes, or Magic Eraser-style sponges, especially on lower-sheen paints like Matte or Flat, as these can subtly burnish or damage the paint film. Products like Regal Select and Aura are designed to be highly washable, but they still benefit from a gentle, measured approach to maintenance.
The Science Behind Benjamin Moore Pigments
The vibrancy and longevity of Benjamin Moore colors are attributed to their proprietary Gennex Color Technology, which utilizes superior, finer-grinding colorants than many standard industry alternatives. These colorants are also exceptionally fade-resistant and chemically compatible with the paint resins, creating a unified, strong film.
This advanced pigment science is what allows the brand to formulate rich, saturated colors that maintain excellent hiding power without relying on harsh chemicals. It ensures that the color you select from the fan deck is the color that ultimately appears on your wall, consistently and beautifully, coat after coat.
Details on the Benjamin Moore Lifetime Warranty
Benjamin Moore stands behind the quality of many of its premium paint products with a limited lifetime warranty against paint failure, such as blistering, cracking, and peeling, when applied according to label directions. This level of confidence reflects the brand’s commitment to superior, long-lasting performance in a residential setting.
It is important to review the specific warranty details for each product line, as the terms and coverage can vary slightly between interior and exterior formulations like Aura and Regal Select. This comprehensive warranty provides homeowners with valuable peace of mind, assuring them of the paint’s exceptional durability and quality.
Current Seasonal Color Trends and Palettes
Every year, Benjamin Moore introduces a highly anticipated Color of the Year and an accompanying color palette that sets the tone for interior design trends across the nation. These selections often reflect broader cultural and design shifts, influencing everything from textiles to home furnishings.
Keeping an eye on these curated seasonal palettes provides excellent inspiration for updating your home with contemporary yet timeless colors. These trending collections are expertly designed to harmonize with each other, making it easy to create a coherent and stylish look across multiple rooms in your house.
FAQs About Benjamin Moore
What makes Benjamin Moore paint more expensive than competitors?
The higher cost is primarily due to the superior quality of raw materials, including high-grade resins, binders, and finer pigments that contribute to better adhesion and color retention. Their unique Gennex colorants are also proprietary, leading to richer, more accurate colors and excellent hide, meaning you often need fewer coats, which saves labor time.
Which Benjamin Moore product line is best for high-traffic areas?
The Aura Interior line is the absolute best choice for high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, and mudrooms due to its top-tier durability and advanced washability features. Its Color Lock Technology ensures the surface is incredibly resistant to stains, scuffing, and repeated cleaning without the color fading or rubbing off.
How long does Benjamin Moore paint typically take to cure?
While most Benjamin Moore products feel dry to the touch within a few hours and are safe for light use after 24 hours, the paint typically takes 7 to 14 days to fully cure and achieve maximum hardness and durability. Alkyd-based products like Advance, used for cabinets, require an even longer cure time, sometimes up to 30 days, before they should be fully closed or subjected to heavy wear.
Can Benjamin Moore colors be perfectly matched in another brand’s paint?
While other brands can come very close to matching Benjamin Moore colors using cross-referenced formulas, achieving a perfect, identical match is technically impossible. This is because Benjamin Moore uses its own proprietary Gennex colorant system, which is chemically different from that of competitors, often leading to subtle, noticeable shifts in tone or depth.
What is the primary difference between Aura and Regal Select paints?
The main difference lies in their respective technologies and resulting performance, with Aura being the premium tier. Aura features Color Lock Technology for superior color fidelity and durability, often providing true one-coat coverage. Regal Select is an excellent, highly durable paint, but it lacks Aura’s specific Color Lock feature and may require a standard two coats for the deepest or most complex colors.
Conclusion
Choosing the right paint for your home is a major decision, and investing in Benjamin Moore products gives you access to an unparalleled combination of color richness, technological innovation, and long-term durability. By understanding the key differences between product lines like Aura, Regal Select, and Advance, you can confidently select a finish that perfectly matches your project’s needs and budget.
Ultimately, whether you are aiming for a crisp, clean aesthetic with a perfect white or a bold, dramatic look with a deep saturation, this brand provides the foundational quality necessary to achieve truly professional results. Embrace the world of color science and premium pigments, and your investment in Benjamin Moore will pay off with a stunning, resilient, and beautifully finished space that you can enjoy for decades to come.
