Learn all about Benjamin Moore Cornsilk (198) in this review from the paint color consultants at The Color Concierge.
Looking for the perfect, soft yellow interior paint? Benjamin Moore Cornsilk could be it! BM Cornsilk is a warm, soft, beautiful yellow paint color that I love using as a colorful interior hue.
While many homeowners reach for warm neutral paint colors in hopes of keeping their homes timeless, a color like Benjamin Moore Cornsilk is actually more timeless than you’d imagine!
Colorful hues always stand the test of time – it’s the neutrals that become outdated.
For example, a “neutral” beige like Benjamin Moore Henderson Buff is considered Tuscan and dated today. But if I run into a color like Cornsilk, it’s hard for me to say when it was painted – even as an expert paint color consultant!
My grandmother used to love yellow walls in her house, both inside and outside. She said that yellow walls were always good luck. I think she loved yellow because it made her happy, and even so many years later, yellow walls make me happy, too!
Keep reading to learn more about Benjamin Moore Cornsilk paint and how you can use this gorgeous color in your home.
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What Color is Benjamin Moore Cornsilk?
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk (Sample) is a warm but soft yellow paint color. It’s muted enough to be easy to work with but still looks bright and cheery on the wall. Homeowners are looking for warm interiors (Article) these days, and Cornsilk will certainly provide that!
What is the BM Cornsilk LRV?
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk has an LRV of 72, which makes it light and bright while still having enough saturated yellow chroma to give it depth.
LRV is an important measure to understand when choosing a paint color, and the same is true when picking the best yellow paint color for your home.
When painting an interior with a yellow color, we usually recommend a lighter yellow than you might expect, with an LRV between about 70 and 75. Any darker and it starts looking heavy. Go lighter, and it starts to look like a very yellowy cream.
Still, BM Cornsilk is one of those colors where LRV doesn’t tell you everything. While BM Cornsilk has the same LRV (72) as Benjamin Moore Ballet White (Article), a color like Cornsilk looks darker because it’s so saturated with color.
What are the BM Cornsilk undertones?
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk paint has soft red undertones that make it so friendly and cozy. Cornsilk strikes a great balance between a more stark, clean yellow and an orange-yellow paint color.
Is BM Cornsilk warm or cool?
Yellow is generally considered a warm color, but we can categorize yellows further based on their undertone. Clean yellows are just like the primary color. Warm yellows have red undertones and look more orange, while cooler yellows have green undertones. I think of these as “mustard yellows.”
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Paying attention to undertones is really key for picking a great yellow paint color. The best hues are slightly warm yellow paint colors that aren’t too harsh. You don’t want a yellow that looks like a caution sign! Stay away from bright, clean primary yellows or orange school bus yellow, as pictured below.
What’s the difference between Benjamin Moore Cornsilk vs Benjamin Moore Corn Silk?
One important note: Benjamin Moore actually has two yellow paint colors inspired by corn silk, but they are very different.
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk (198) (Sample) is the color we’re talking about today, not to be confused with Benjamin Moore Corn Silk (CC-218). BM Corn Silk is much brighter and cleaner than Cornsilk and may look too stark in many applications.
Sample Benjamin Moore Cornsilk
We always recommend that you test paint colors (Article) in your home because lighting can completely change a color, both on interiors and exteriors.
In the old days, this meant we painted a large poster board with sample pots and a huge mess.
Now we have a better way to test paint, with Samplize Peel-and-Stick samples!
- Samples pre-painted with 2 coats of real paint from the manufacturer.
- Large 9” x 14” samples to see the color better in the lighting.
- Delivered overnight
- Colors are accurate
- Less expensive than painting a large poster board with sample pots
- No mess, and no toxic paint to dispose of
I use these in my color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples and sample Benjamin Moore Cornsilk (Sample) via the link below.
Using Benjamin Moore Cornsilk Interior Paint
We used Benjamin Moore Cornsilk throughout a client’s home and it truly brought this space to life! The home in this project was rented out as a popular AirBNB in Tennesee and the soft yellow walls keep it feeling cheery and welcoming.
Is a BM Cornsilk kitchen a good idea?
We love a yellow kitchen – and it’s actually one of the kitchen trends for 2025 (Article) that we’re seeing.
In our client’s kitchen, we used Benjamin Moore Cornsilk on the walls and paired it with Benjamin Moore Oxford White cabinets (Article), trim and ceilings.
I love how this kitchen looks so classic – it will be gorgeous for years to come! We incorporated green decor accents and warm wood tones to keep this space feeling bright but balanced.
What about Cornsilk kitchen cabinets?
You could absolutely try Benjamin Moore Cornsilk cabinets! If you wanted to paint your cabinets this color, I’d recommend painting your walls off-white or creamy white.
Should I try a Benjamin Moore Cornsilk living room?
Definitely! Our client’s home featured an open-concept kitchen and living room and we used Cornsilk throughout this space. The paint looks darker and warmer in the living room because of the lighting, but still looks gorgeous.
I love how the Cornsilk walls look with the deep blue couch and window seat cushion. This is such a warm and inviting space!
Is Benjamin Moore Cornsilk a good whole-house color?
Yellow isn’t necessarily a mainstream color to use as a whole-house foundation paint color (Article), but it can work with the right yellow hue. Every now and then I get a homeowner who wants to paint their home interior yellow as a foundation color. These are the people that say, “I’m not afraid of color.”
In these cases, they aren’t looking for the dated Tuscan yellow-beige that was in style in the 2000s that we all thought was so cozy. They want a clean, warm, lovely and joyful yellow that they can live with for a long time. Benjamin Moore Cornsilk is a great option!
We used BM Cornsilk paint throughout the main living and open concept areas of this client’s home and it looked absolutely gorgeous! I love the way it created a bright and cheery foundation for the other rooms in the home.
Can You Use Benjamin Moore Cornsilk Exterior Paint?
Although you could use BM Cornsilk exterior paint, the LRV is high enough that it would look pretty washed out, even as a trim color. It’s too yellow to act as a creamy white outdoors, and probably too white to look truly yellow in the bright sun. I consider Cornsilk an interior paint color for practical purposes.
If you want a yellow exterior, I recommend trying Benjamin Moore Hepplewhite Ivory (Article) as a very soft yellow hue or Benjamin Moore Waterbury Cream (Article) for a darker, more saturated option perfect for Victorian homes.
When should I avoid BM Cornsilk paint?
Don’t use Benjamin Moore Cornsilk with greige or dark beige colors such as BM Ballet White or darker cream colors like BM Marscapone or BM Seashell because they are too muted.
Beiges with pink undertones and taupes can also look really discordant with Cornsilk. Avoid other pastel colors in large quantities, too, because your palette can start looking like an Easter egg.
What Colors Go With BM Cornsilk?
I love using mid-toned and darker, richer colors with Cornsilk and similar yellows. It’s a great way to balance the bright hue within a space. Some of my favorite pairings are below.
Does BM Cornsilk go with blue?
Yes! Blue quenches and balances the warmth of yellow. Darker colors like Benjamin Moore Symphony Blue (Sample) and medium blues like BM Van Courtland Blue (Sample) would both look lovely with Cornsilk paint.
We can see this color combination in our client’s living room, where deep blue couches look gorgeous alongside the yellow walls.
Does BM Cornsilk go with purple?
Yes, purple is another great pairing for Cornsilk paint. A muted purple hue like Benajmin Moore Mauve Desert (Sample) is gorgeous with Cornsilk. BM Plum Raisin (Sample) is warmer and richer, and great for accent pillows or an accent wall.
Does BM Cornsilk go with green?
Absolutely! Greens are beautiful with Cornsilk and other yellow paint colors. We used pops of green in our client’s yellow kitchen and it works so well.
Yellow-green placements in the kitchen add brightness to the space and are very similar to Benjamin Moore Wasabi (Sample).
Throughout the main living area, indoor plants and photos of foliage bring gorgeous blue-green hues into the space, similar to Benjamin Moore Adirondack Green (Sample).
What neutral paint color looks best with BM Cornsilk?
Picking a neutral to go with yellow paint isn’t always easy. For Benjamin Moore Cornsilk, my favorite neutral is BM Collingwood (Article).
This hue is a gray with violet undertones, very similar to the color of the living room chair pictured below.
What are the Best Trim and Ceiling Colors For Cornsilk?
A clean white or slightly warm off-white is the best trim and ceiling color (Article) for BM Cornsilk walls. Some good options are Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (Article), Benjamin Moore Oxford White, Benjamin Moore Snowfall White (Article) and Benjamin Moore Simply White (Article).
I wouldn’t go as dark as Benjamin Moore White Dove (Article) or Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (Article) with this paint color – they might not provide enough contrast.
Best Benjamin Moore Cornsilk Alternatives
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk vs Benjamin Moore Hepplewhite Ivory
Benjamin Moore Hepplewhite Ivory (Article) is another muted yellow paint color, but it is slightly lighter and actually more muted than BM Cornsilk. It has similar undertones but they are more orange than red.
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk vs Benjamin Moore Windham Cream
Benjamin Moore Windham Cream (Sample) is another beautiful, soft yellow. It is much lighter than Cornsilk, with an LRV of 79 and also has cleaner undertones.
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk vs Benjamin Moore Rich Cream
Benjamin Moore Rich Cream (Sample) looks much less saturated next to BM Cornsilk. It is lighter, with an LRV of 76, and slightly softer than Cornsilk. Rich Cream has subtle orange undertones compared to Cornsilk’s red ones.
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk vs Benjamin Moore Creamy Beige
Benjamin Moore Creamy Beige (Sample) has strong orange undertones, so it looks very peachy compared to Benjamin Mooe Cornsilk. It’s also lighter and brighter than Cornsilk, with an LV of 80.
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk vs Benjamin Moore Summer Harvest
Benjamin Moore Summer Harvest (Sample) is one of the closest matches to Cornsilk, but it still looks pretty different because it has green undertones. Summer Harvest is also a bit darker and more muted, with an LRV of 71.
What is Benjamin Moore Cornsilk in Sherwin-Williams?
The closest Sherwin-Williams paint color to BM Cornsilk is SW Banana Cream (Sample)- and it’s pretty close! It’s just a tad warmer than Cornsilk with a bit more red in the color. The LRV is 75, so it’s also bit lighter.
Key Learning Points
Benjamin Moore Cornsilk is a soft, lovely yellow paint color perfect for interior applications.
- Benjamin Moore Cornsilk has warm red undertones, which help ensure it won’t look too bright or stark on the wall.
- Cornsilk works well for kitchens, bedrooms, living bathrooms and even open concept spaces if you want a more colorful palette.
- Avoid pairing Cornsilk with any very creamy whites or too many other pastel colors, which could leave your home feeling a bit like an Easter egg.
Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.
No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors here.
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Related Posts
- Benjamin Moore Hepplewhite Ivory Review
- Benjamin Moore Vital Yellow Exterior Palette
- Yellow Victorian Paint Color & Palette
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