Benjamin Moore Classic Gray 1548 Color Palette

February 23, 2024

By Michelle Marceny, Certified Color Expert and founder of The Color Concierge

If you’re looking for a timeless interior color scheme, this Benjamin Moore Classic Gray color palette could be the perfect fit. Explore all the beautiful paint colors in this Colorado home.

This Colorado home was one of my favorite projects I’ve ever worked on. The homeowners are a really nice family that purchased this home, which had great bones but needed renovation.

When they came to The Color Concierge, their goal was a classic, timeless home in which they could raise their beautiful family. We were lucky enough to create a whole-house color palette for the interior and exterior of the home, which you can read more about in the linked article. The palette we ended up with is soft, muted, neutral, and elegant. Even the saturated blue colors are muted. The palette is a great backdrop for the homeowner’s beautiful art and calm, peaceful aesthetic.

Title graphic for the Classic Gray Color Palette that shows all the paint colors

We designed the palette with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23) as the foundation of the main living area. We kept the rest of the palette mostly monochromatic with some subtle pops of color. Keep reading to learn more about this BM Classic Gray color scheme and how to design a whole-house palette for your home.

*This post contains affiliate links for products I use and love. If you click on some links and make a purchase, I will get a small commission at no cost to you. This helps pay for the costs of the blog, so I can continue to offer great content to our readers.

About The Color Concierge

Our Colorado-based paint color consultants make finding the right paint colors for your home easy. Whether you’re painting the exterior or interior of your home, our simple yet effective process lets us get your paint color right the first time. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners transform their homes into a space they love. Learn more about ONLINE COLOR CONSULTATIONS today.

How to Design a Whole-House Palette

Our design guidelines for whole-house color schemes are detailed in the post How to Create a Whole House Color Palette (With Real-Life Examples), and Why A Whole-House Color Scheme Matters.

But before I share our clients’ Benjamin Moore Classic Gray color palette, I wanted to briefly review our method.

1. Pick your foundation color for the common areas. A foundation color is typically a light neutral, such as a white, gray, beige or greige. In this case, we used BM Classic Gray, BM Edgecomb Gray, and BM White Dove, which are all warm neutral paint colors.

I like to start with the lightest wall color at the entry, and then use darker neutrals as you go deeper into the home, with splashes of color interspersed as accents.

2. Select a white paint color for the trim and ceiling. Every good color palette needs great white paint for trim and ceilings. Which you can find more details about in the linked article. This should be used throughout the home on all the trim, window frames, and doors. In this home, we used BM Oxford White as our trim color throughout the home.

3. Pick paint colors for the secondary living spaces. Next, we move to the dining rooms, offices, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Blues, greens, and neutral paint colors with colorful undertones are perfect for this kind of space.

4. Select accent colors last. If you’re planning for accent walls, make sure to consider the other paint colors in your palette and the colors in your furniture, decor and hard finishes.

5. Pay attention to undertones. When designing a color palette, choose paint colors that have similar undertones. For example, since Classic Gray has warm, green undertones, I picked other neutrals with green undertones to complete the palette I’m sharing today. I kept all of the other colors in the palette warm too, including warm blues with green undertones and warm whites.

Sample Classic Gray

We always recommend that you test paint colors in your home because lighting can completely change a color, both on interiors and exteriors.

I use these in my color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples and sample Classic Gray via the link below.

SAMPLE CLASSIC GRAY

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray Interior Color Palette

The home featured in today’s post is a wonderful example of a timeless whole-house color palette. This home has so many beautiful rooms and living spaces, so we wanted to build a color palette that would highlight the unique architectural details and make the space feel warm and inviting.

We kept the palette simple and mostly monochromatic, which gives the homeowners flexibility with their furniture, decor, and hard finishes for years to come.

BM Classic Gray Living Room

The living room is connected to both the entryway and the dining room of this home, so it’s one of the first spaces you see when you enter the house.

We chose BM Classic Gray because it felt light and bright in the space but still provided plenty of warmth and you can read more about it in the linked article.

A color swatch of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray paint. — *BM Classic Gray;* *Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

BM Classic Gray is very versatile and shifts depending on the natural light. It has subtle green undertones and can flash purple in cooler light. Sometimes it can read so warm that it’s almost beige, and other times it can read a light warm gray. Classic Gray has an LRV of 76, and is fairly light, so In a room flooded with light like this one, it looks like a creamy white that doesn’t shift into yellow.

In any light, it’s a wonderful neutral foundation for pops of color in your decor and finishes. I love the way the Classic Gray walls look with this bright and colorful area rug!

A living room is painted with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. — *A living room is painted with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray by M. Marceny*

We continued the BM Classic Gray walls in the family room, pairing them with a brick fireplace painted with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray. The fireplace and brick arch – both painted with Edgecomb Gray – are a lovely transition into the home’s kitchen, which features warm white kitchen cabinets and Edgecomb Gray walls.

A fireplace and brick archway are painted with BM Edgecomb Gray. — *A fireplace and brick archway are painted with BM Edgecomb Gray by M. Marceny*

Sample Benjamin Moore Classic Gray.

BM Edgecomb Gray Kitchen

The kitchen is truly the heart of any home, so we always spend a lot of our time planning the colors for this room. This client’s kitchen renovation had just been completed and featured a Chamonix Quartzite countertop, which we paired with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray walls.

Edgecomb Gray has an LR of 63, and is a darker version of Classic Gray, perfect for this tonal and neutral palette.

A color swatch of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray from Samplize. — *BM Edgecomb Gray; Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

The veins of the quartzite matched BM Edgecomb Gray exactly, so that was the perfect choice for the walls in this space! Quartzite is a wonderful countertop material because it’s even stronger than granite. You can see the beautiful veining in the image below, and the tinge of red warmth in the cabinets. We used the veins in the quartzite as a reference to select the Edgecomb Gray.

Kitchen walls are painted with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray paint, paired with a quartzite countertop and warm white cabinets. — *Kitchen walls are painted with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray paint, paired with a quartzite countertop and warm white cabinets courtesy of M. Marceny*

This kitchen is mostly cabinets, but you can see the Edgecomb Gray on the walls that lead into the dining room and on the walls above the stone flanking the hood.

A kitchen features BM Edgecomb Gray walls and warm white cabinets in this whole-house color palette. — *A kitchen features BM Edgecomb Gray walls and warm white cabinets in this whole-house color palette by M. Marceny*

A warm white range hood is paired with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray walls in this neutral kitchen. — *A warm white range hood is paired with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray walls in this neutral kitchen by M. Marceny*

The warmth of the Edgecomb Gray walls looks beautiful with the warm white cabinets and the warm gray veining of the Quartzite counters.

Kitchen walls are painted with BM Edgecomb Gray, a warm neutral. — *Kitchen walls are painted with BM Edgecomb Gray, a warm neutral by M. Marceny*

Benjamin Moore Oxford White Trim

When designing whole-house color palettes we often pick a white trim and ceiling paint that is the same color as the cabinets. Instead, we picked Oxford White for the whole-house trim color, which is a clean white that leans into warmth.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Oxford White from Samplize.com — *BM Oxford White; Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

The white cabinets were a gorgeous off-white with really warm tones that wouldn’t have looked right as trim in this type of home. Oxford White, though not the same, was still close enough to harmonize nicely. You can always pair a clean white with an off-white. Oxford White has an LRV of 87, and is very bright. It is the same as Benjamin Moore White Heron.

A kitchen with warm white cabinets features BM Oxford White trim as part of this Benjamin Moore Classic Gray color palette. — *A kitchen with warm white cabinets features BM Oxford White trim as part of this Benjamin Moore Classic Gray color palette* *by M. Marceny*

BM Britannia Blue Dining Room

The dining room, painted with BM Britannia Blue, is one of our favorite rooms in the house, and even though it’s formal, the family uses it frequently. Britannia Blue has an LRV of 18 and is a mid-toned blue-gray. You can read more about it in the linked article. I love it because it looks so silky when you paint it on the walls. Which you can read more about in the linked article.

A color swatch of BM Britannia Blue from Samplize.com — *BM Britannia Blue; Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

We wanted to treat this room like an accent but also ensure it tied in well with the Classic Gray color palette, especially because the room is visible from the living room and the kitchen.

A Britannia Blue dining room is visible from a BM Classic Gray living room. — *A Britannia Blue dining room is visible from a BM Classic Gray living room by M. Marceny*

The walls above the wainscoting were painted Benjamin Moore Britannia Blue, with traditional trim white for the wainscoting (we used Oxford White here). You can learn more about Britannia Blue in our color review article.

Benjamin Moore White Dove Entryway and Hallway

This home’s entry is a beautiful welcoming area. We decided to paint the walls lighter than Classic Gray and went with BM White Dove which you can read more about in the linked article.

A color swatch of BM White Dove paint from Samplize.com — *BM White Dove; Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

White Dove is a slightly creamy, yet muted white paint that works well in rooms with lots of light like the entryway, but also looks pretty in dimmer areas, like this home’s upstairs hallway. White Dove has an LRV of 83, similar to SW Alabaster.

*An entryway features Benjamin Moore White Dove paint a by M. Marceny*

The homeowner chose a traditional, classic and timeless staircase that would look current today or in 20 years. Trim and ceiling are painted with Oxford White.

Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne Primary Bedroom

Bedrooms are a great place to play with color within a whole-house palette. For these clients, we painted the cathedral ceilings and walls of the primary bedroom with Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne, which you can read more of in the linked article.

A Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne color swatch from Samplize.com — *BM Mount Saint Anne; Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

Mount Saint Anne is a gorgeous blue-gray paint color that has a touch of green added in, offering warmth that is perfect for a cozy, calming bedroom. It looks lighter in this room than you might expect because of all the windows that face south and west.

A bedroom is painted with Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne, one of the accents in this BM Classic Gray color palette. — *A bedroom is painted with Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne, one of the accents in this BM Classic Gray color palette by M. Marceny*

The trim and fireplace mantle are painted with BM Oxford White.

A primary bedroom features BM Mount Sainte Anne walls and Bm Oxford White painted brick fireplace. — *A primary bedroom features BM Mount Sainte Anne walls and Bm Oxford White painted brick fireplace by M. Marceny*

I love the way this color looks in this room’s cozy nook. It’s a great area for peace and tranquility for our homeowner.

Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan Kids Bedrooms

We painted the kids’ rooms Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan, a warm, friendly neutral that is a great foundation for a variety of decor styles. Which you can read more about it in the linked article. This color is very similar to Edgecomb Gray. It has a similar LRV. but when you compare the two colors, Manchester Tan is warmer and more beige than Edgecomb Gray.

A swatch of BM Manchester Tan paint from Samplize.com — *BM Manchester Tan; Photo courtesy of Samplize.com*

Manchester Tan walls can grow with their kids, remaining classic even as their interests and decor preferences change.

A kids room is painted with Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan paint as part of a BM Classic Gray color palette. — *A kids room is painted with Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan paint as part of a BM Classic Gray color palette by M. Marceny*

Exterior Color Palette for the BM Classic Gray Home

We also picked the exterior paint colors for this home. While we knew we weren’t going to use a BM Classic Gray color palette for the exterior, we still wanted colors that would coordinate with the look inside the home.

We resisted using a very bright white because of the Colorado sunshine. Instead, we painted the house a very light greige called SW City Loft. City Loft is a balanced greige on the warm side. It has an LRV of 70, which makes it light-reflecting.

An exterior color palette features Sherwin-Williams City Loft paint, SW Fawn Brindle and SW Black Fox. — *An exterior color palette features Sherwin-Williams City Loft paint, SW Fawn Brindle and SW Black Fox by M. Marceny*

The exterior palette was completed with Sherwin-Williams Fawn Brindle, a darker greige than City Loft that was the perfect color for the window trim.

We used Sherwin-Williams Black Fox for the garage doors, fascia, gutters, downspouts and crown molding between the soffits and the body of the house.

Together, the three hues create a simple and truly timeless exterior color palette that transforms this house into a Modern French Chateau. Read our full breakdown of this painted brick exterior palette.

Explore all the colors in this Benjamin Moore Classic Gray Color Palette

A Benjamin Moore Classic Gray color palette features BM Classic Gray, BM Edgecomb Gray and other neutral paint colors.

Don’t Forget to Sample Your Paint Colors

We always recommend that you test paint colors on your home because lighting can change a color completely, both with interiors as well as exteriors.

I use these in my own color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples and order yours via the linke below.

GET THE BUNDLE

Buy 8 samples and get 2 free – no coupon code required. Order today and get samples tomorrow!

Online Color Consulting

Don’t want to create a color palette by yourself? Discover our Online Color Consulting Packages.

About the Author

Michelle Marceny, Professional Paint Color Consultant in Colorado

Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color — whether that’s a whole-house color scheme or ideas for a single room.

Since founding The Color Concierge in 2017, my team and I have completed 1,000s of color consultations, online and in person. I’m a Certified Color Expert with nine years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.

Every color review on this site comes from colors we’ve specified in real homes and photographed on location during our own consultations — not from a fan deck or a manufacturer’s website.

A series of rooms painted as part of a Benjamin Moore Classic Gray color palette. Explore the full palette from The Color Concierge.

We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, our Online Color Consultations will help you pick your paint colors. Thank you for your understanding.

One Response

Gail says:

June 7, 2024 at 7:50 pm

Lovely colour palette. Could I use Oxford white as a ceiling and trim paint with cloud white kitchen cupboards and den built ins? We have classic gray and collingwood on the walls.
Would Britannia blue as an accent wall in a small windowless powder room along with classic grey work. Cabinet is cloud white as well.
Neutral countertop and flooring. Your advice would be appreciated! Thank you

Reply

Meet Michelle

Driven to help clients fall back in love with their homes with intentional paint color schemes. She started the company based on her passion for color and its ability to make a house a home.

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