Learn all about Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy exterior paint in this color review from The Color Concierge.
There’s something so classic about a navy blue exterior color palette. So when our clients came to us looking to transform their 1904 home in the foothills west of Denver, a deep blue-gray color scheme seemed like the perfect fit.
We used Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy as the foundation for this blue exterior palette. A deep, muted blue, Westcott Navy is a softer take on a classic navy blue exterior. When combined with grays and other muted hues, it’s a beautiful, timeless color that would work on many types of houses.
Keep reading to learn more about BM Westcott Navy and to see the full exterior palette we designed for this client’s home.
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What Color is BM Westcott Navy?
Westcott Navy by Benjamin Moore is a deep, muted navy blue. It’s really more of a dark gray with strong blue undertones. In some lights, it looks very gray while in others (including outdoors in the bright sunlight) its blue undertones are more obvious. I also use it in my practice as a blue-black color.
What is the Westcott Navy LRV?
Westcott Navy has an LRV of 9.87. LRV is short for Light Reflectance Value, which is a measurement of how light (LRV=100) or dark (LRV=0) a color is. Westcott Navy borders on black, thanks especially to its strong gray tones.
What are Westcott Navy’s undertones?
I think of Westcott Navy as a dark gray paint color with strong blue undertones. The blue undertones come together with lots of gray to create a gorgeous, deep blue-gray hue.
Is Westcott Navy warm or cool?
Westcott Navy is a cool paint color thanks to its cool blue undertones. Because it has so much gray in it, the color is softened a bit so it won’t risk looking too cool even in the bright sunlight.
What’s the difference between Westcott Navy vs Hale Navy?
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (blog post) is one of the most popular navy blue exterior colors on the market. Westcott Navy and Hale Navy can create a similar look for a home, but are actually quite different.
While Hale Navy is a bit muted, it’s much bluer than Westcott Navy. Hale Navy also has subtle green undertones that give the paint its warmth. Hale Navy is also darker, with an LRV of 8.
If you want a true navy blue exterior, Hale Navy could be a good option. If you like the look of deep blue but want something a little more muted, I’d recommend Westcott Navy.
When can you use Westcott Navy as an interior paint color?
Westcott Navy is a dark, muted color, so I would stick with it as an accent color for interior applications in rooms with lots of light. If you use it in a room that is too shady or with low light, it can look black. This color would be fabulous as an island or lower cabinet color, or as an accent wall where you want a black that is softer and cooler.
Sample Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy Exterior Paint
You should always sample and test your paint colors. The easiest way to any paint color is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color.
There is no mess, and the cost is less expensive than purchasing a sample and a white poster board. Since you don’t need to dispose of the paint, it’s also environmentally friendly!
With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.
How to Use BM Westcott Navy Exterior Paint
Is Westcott Navy a good historic house paint color?
Yes, Westcott Navy is a great option for a historic house exterior. The beautiful home we’re featuring in today’s post was built in 1904 in the foothills west of Denver.
This home is gorgeous, but definitely needed a refresh. Because it is a historic home, we needed to get the updated exterior approved by the local Historical Society. They approved this dark blue-gray palette featuring Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy and the homeowners loved it, too!
Would a Westcott Navy front door be a good idea?
Yes, a Westcott Navy front door would look beautiful as part of a lighter exterior color palette. We’ve used BM Hale Navy as a front door paint color and it looks lovely. Westcott Navy would work in a similar way.
In the client’s home pictured below, for example, a Hale Navy front door was part of a Hepplewhite Ivory exterior color scheme. The door adds a beautiful pop of color to this inviting front porch (which also features a haint blue porch ceiling) while still being very classic.
What trim color goes with Westcott Navy exterior paint?
Because Westcott Navy is so muted, it works best with other muted paint colors. And because it’s so dark, it’s important to choose an exterior white trim that’s not too light, otherwise it could look too harsh next to the navy paint.
Opt for a dark white, off-white or light greige paint color when using Westcott Navy exterior paint. In the palette featured below, we used Benjamin Moore Seashell as the primary trim color.
Project Spotlight: Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy Exterior Color Palette
This gorgeous Denver home had such a dramatic transformation with its Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy exterior color scheme. Its previous color scheme was very light and did nothing to accentuate the gorgeous architectural details on this historic home.
Although the house had many complex elements, we kept the palette simple. Still, Westcott Navy and its coordinating colors added more contrast and depth than the previous palette.
We initially noticed that the asphalt shingles over the front porch were painted in the original color palette, and they really should not have been. Instead of repainting them, we recommended that the homeowners replace them with dark charcoal asphalt shingles. They didn’t replace the whole roof, just that part.
Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy Siding
The Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy siding brought this home to life! It stands out beautifully next to all of the greenery around the home and brings a modern touch to this historic home.
The deep blue-gray siding also looks beautiful alongside the pool and lush greenery at the back of the house. Westcott Navy looks grayer in the sunshine but still creates a beautiful contrast with the green trees, and looks almost black in the shade.
Benjamin Moore Seashell Trim
We used Benjamin Moore Seashell for the exterior trim on this home. Seashell is a warm, off-white paint color with subtle green undertones.
Seashell looks like a white trim color next to the Westcott Navy siding, but with an LRV of 79.82 it doesn’t get washed out in the bright Colorado sun.
The trim is especially beautiful on the garage of this home, which includes a guest house at the top. The top gable of the garage and the garage doors were painted with BM Westcott Navy. They contrast beautifully with the thick BM Seashell trim.
Benjamin Moore Storm Cloud Gray Accents
The rest of the guest house and garage was painted BM Storm Cloud Gray, which is visible on the back side of this structure.
Storm Cloud Gray has warm green undertones, which look gorgeous surrounded by all of the trees and other green foliage.
Benjamin Moore Kasbah Front Door
Benjamin Moore Kasbah is a really unique, muted plum paint color. We used it for the front door and some of the home’s unique architectural accents, including the squares on the gable fascias, the line above the front porch and the line in the gable.
Sample This Westcott Navy Exterior Color Palette
- BM Westcott Navy: Siding, painted brick, diamonds, shingles, garage door
- BM Seashell: Trim, Soffits, Fascia, Columns, window trim, garage door trim
- BM Storm Cloud Gray: Scallops, Fence, crown molding, corbels, Stone Lintels, rectangle feature on gable fascias
- BM Kasbah: Front door, squares on gable fascias, line above the front, line in the gable
Top Westcott Navy Alternatives
Not sure if Westcott is the correct dark blue for your exterior? Check out how it compares to similar paint colors from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore.
Westcott Navy vs. Hale Navy
These two colors are similar, but Westcott Navy will always look much more muted and gray. Hale Navy will look like a rich blue in the sunshine, where Westcott Navy will always border on a gray.
Westcott Navy vs. Cyberspace
There really isn’t a Sherwin-Williams match to Westcott Navy.Cyberspace is the closest Sherwin-Williams color to Westcott Navy, but It is much darker. These colors both do the same work, and will look similar on a house. If possible, Westcott might look a bit earthier.
Westcott Navy vs. Charcoal Blue
As a personal bias, I prefer Westcott Navy to Charcoal Blue. Charcoal Blue will always look like a cool blue, or a blurple, where Westcott is softer and more friendly.
Westcott Navy vs. Polo Blue
These are both beautiful colors, but very different. Polo has so much depth, and if you are looking for a colorful dark blue, Polo Blue is the one. If you want a very dark muted blue-black, pick Westcott Navy.
Key Learning Points
Benjamin Moore Westcott Navy is a cool, deep blue-gray paint color that is very muted. It’s a wonderful choice for a blue exterior color scheme as well as a historic home.
- Westcott Navy is very muted. It’s really more of a dark gray with strong blue undertones rather than a true navy blue. I consider this color a blue-black.
- The closest Sherwin-Williams color to Westcott Navy is Cyberspace, although Cyberspace is much darker.
- Because it’s so muted, Westcott Navy works well with other muted paint colors when building an exterior color palette.
- Off-white and light greige paint colors are the best choices for exterior trim with Westcott Navy. Lighter whites may look too stark next to the dark blue paint, especially in the bright sunlight.
As always, don’t forget to test your paint colors! The easiest way to sample Westcott Navy (and any paint color for that matter) is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color. With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.
One more thing… We do not recommend that you try to paint match Westcott Navy or any other Benjamin Moore paints with Sherwin-Williams, Behr, or any other manufacturer. Paint color formulas are difficult to duplicate, and whites are especially hard to get right. Read more about paint matching here.
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