Benjamin Moore Smoke is a beautiful medium shade of smoky gray-blue paint color. It’s calm, serene, soft and can undeniably make a room feel bright and coastal-like. Neither dark nor too light, Smoke by Benjamin Moore is the perfect way to add color to a room without overwhelming the space.This beautiful and enchanting dusty blue-gray color can also prove to be a chameleon at times! Oh yes, the hidden green undertone can pop up under certain lighting conditions – but not majorly though! Well, I am absolutely in love with Benjamin Moore Smoke and in this article, you’ll exactly figure out why!
In this color review, I will be disclosing everything you need to know about Benjamin Moore Smoke. We’re going to discuss the undertones, Light Reflectance Values (LRVs), where and how to use this classic and sophisticated soft blue color in your home, color comparisons, FAQs, and much more! We will also discuss how this color behaves in various lighting conditions. And yes, I am going to showcase some real-time images as well! Excited much? Let’s get started!
What Color is Smoke by Benjamin Moore?
BM Smoke is a pale blue-gray paint color that feels muted, calm, subdued, and quite subtle. The ‘gray’ in blue is what makes this color feel so relaxing and beach-like! Especially if you’re craving a spa-like feel in the home, Smoke can definitely do wonders. Meanwhile, this color can beautifully work in the warm as well as cool-toned color palettes. Whether Coastal or Transitional – Benjamin Moore Smoke can tend to make a dashing contrast in almost any interior design style.
Benjamin Moore Smoke must definitely be used in a space that receives considerable incoming natural light. In a well-lit space, BM Smoke can add a breezy and soothing vibe. On the other hand, in a room that receives low incoming natural light, this blue-gray paint color can readily look deep but not dark or dingy. There have also been certain times that I have used this sophisticated and classic Benjamin Moore soft blue paint color for my various E-Design and Color Consultation clients. I’d recommend that you definitely choose this paint color as an accent in various areas of your home.
I’d recommend that you try this ready-to-order swatch in different rooms with different lighting conditions to determine how Benjamin Moore Smoke will truly feel in your home.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Benjamin Moore Smoke
Is Benjamin Moore Smoke a Warm or Cool Color?
Benjamin Moore Smoke is definitely a cool-toned, gray-blue paint color. However, it isn’t too icy either! With deep hidden green undertones, this color can readily add a cool and calming feel to a room without making the space feel chilly or overly cold. Hence, making a timeless choice overall! However, in the rooms that don’t receive a lot of natural light – BM Smoke can come off cold and in some cases, dingy!
For instance, try placing a swatch of BM Smoke against BM Blue Heather and BM Palladian Blue. You’ll observe how muted, subdued, and a dusty paint color is BM Smoke. It neither feels too warm nor too cool. On the other hand, BM Blue Heather feels like a colder blue-gray paint color with a notable purple or periwinkle undertones. Meanwhile, Palladian Blue is warmer due to the major green undertones.
Is Benjamin Moore Smoke Gray or Blue?
Benjamin Moore Smoke is definitely a dusty blue paint color with a deep gray base to it. So, in my books, it definitely has a greater degree of blue than gray. However, it also depends on where you’re exactly planning to use this color in your home. For instance, in a well-lit home, BM Smoke can appear more true to being blue! On the other hand, in a dull room or a space that receives low incoming natural light, BM Smoke has the potential to appear slightly more gray.
For instance, try placing a swatch of BM Smoke against BM Boothbay Gray! Well, both these paint colors are blue-green-gray, however, BM Smoke has a greater degree of blue as compared to BM Boothbay Gray.
What are the Undertones of Benjamin Moore Smoke?
Smoke by Benjamin Moore is a blue-gray paint color with a deep green undertone. However, the green undertones are quite hidden and subdued. In other words, Smoke is a moody blue-gray paint color that acts like a total chameleon. Yes, this color can look blue-gray in certain rooms and blue-green in the other! So, it’s extremely important that you sample the paint color on the walls and determine how it will appear throughout the day.In rooms that receive low incoming natural light, Smoke Benjamin Moore can come off slightly dingy. Hence, it’s important that you brighten up these rooms with artificial lighting in the form of floor lamps, table lamps, and chandeliers.
Let’s discuss how this color behaves in different lighting conditions –
- In the north-facing rooms, BM Smoke can come off slightly cool-toned with some depth of gray popping up! Allow considerable natural light to enter the north-facing room.
- In the south-facing rooms, the Smoke paint color can come off the best! This cool-toned color will blend in with the incoming warmth – hence, creating a wholesome experience overall. It will come off like a lovely pale blue color – especially if you have a well-lit south-facing room.
- In the east-facing rooms, BM Smoke will appear calm and balanced all day long! Just allow a considerable amount of natural or artificial light to enter!
- In the west-facing rooms, Smoke by Benjamin Moore can appear muted in the early morning and afternoon hours and quite neutral and calm in the late afternoon hours.
BM Smoke LRV
Light Reflectance Value or LRV is an important aspect to consider when choosing the best neutral paint color for your home. This value determines how light or dark the paint color is – on a scale of 0-100. Hence, the darker the paint color, the lower the LRV is!
The LRV of Benjamin Moore Smoke is 56.39! Hence, falling on the medium end of the scale. So, Benjamin Moore Smoke is neither too dark nor too light and can perfectly create an accent in any space. You can best pair this color with a clean white trim for a wholesome and overall calming look. Meanwhile, try using this color in a room that receives considerable natural light. Avoid in very dark rooms (or only use it as an accent there)!
Can I Use Benjamin Moore Smoke For The WHOLE HOUSE?
Maybe yes, maybe no! I generally recommend a shade of white or an off-white as the “whole house color” with some accents in bedrooms and bathrooms. However, in this case, BM Smoke can be used as a ‘whole house color’ but only restricted to coastal homes and beach houses. Else, it may truly be quite intimidating! Definitely not my first choice for the whole house color as BM Smoke can make your common spaces feel weighted and not too light or breezy! Moreover, BM Smoke on the common walls of your home can make it difficult to create a cohesive color palette for the other spaces of your home.
For a timeless appeal, I’d recommend that you stick to BM Smoke as an accent on the kitchen cabinets, mudroom cabinets, front doors, accent furniture, and maybe on all the walls of a well-lit home office or bedroom. Rather, I’d recommend that you choose this color only as an accent on the built-in shelves of your living room or family room, interior doors, or accent wainscoting.
How To Use BM Smoke Paint?
Smoke BM is a classic blue-gray color that can be used in a particular space as well as on the cabinets, doors, trims, and more. This color can be used on all the walls of a particular room, interior doors, the kitchen cabinets, mudroom and foyer cabinets, even exterior walls, bathroom vanity, wainscotting, and much more. Especially for interior design styles like Coastal, Modern Classic, transitional, Modern Farmhouse, and Contemporary – this soft blue color by Benjamin Moore will work beautifully.
Here’s a well-curated pre-made color palette that I have created for BM Smoke on Etsy! It enlists all the exact colors that pair with Smoke color including how and where to use them in your whole house color palette. I have included 5 color palettes (with Benjamin Moore Smoke and complementary hues) along with how to use each of those paint colors in various areas of your home. You’ll also get the detailed MATERIAL and FABRIC palette with each of BM Smoke color palettes! Another bonus is PAINT PLANNER and a detailed guide on paint sheens for various areas of your home.
Here’s where you can download the palette – Benjamin Moore Smoke
Where To Use BM Smoke Paint in Your Home?
You can use Smoke by Benjamin Moore in various areas of your home. You can either use this color as an accent or base in a specific space or even on the doors, cabinets, vanity, and shelves. Moreover, this color is a classic choice for home office walls, bedroom walls, laundry room cabinets and much more. Here’s where you can use this BM Smoke paint color –
- Front Door (Interiors and Exteriors)
- Exterior Walls
- Exterior Shutters
- Bedroom Walls
- Bathroom Vanity
- Laundry Cabinets
- Kitchen Cabinets
- Built-in Shelves
- Wainscotting
- Mudroom Cabinets
- Foyer Cabinets
- Kids’ Bedroom (Boy)
- Common Walls (Only for Coastal homes & Beach Houses)
What Colors Go With BM Smoke?
Colors that go with Benjamin Moore Smoke are shades of warm white, neutral whites, cool whites, sage greens, darker blue-grays, green-grays, warm grays, greige, beige, tan, taupe, khaki, lighter greige, mustard, rust, burnt orange, yellow, and light gray. Yes! This paint color is considerably easier to pair with other color categories.
Here’s a list of Benjamin Moore white colors that go with BM Smoke –
Now, here’s a list of Benjamin Moore green colors that go with BM Smoke –
- Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull
- Benjamin Moore Soft Fern
- Benjamin Moore Healing Aloe
You must have a look at this list of Benjamin Moore gray and greige colors that go with BM Smoke –
- Benjamin Moore Pale Oak
- Benjamin Moore Collingwood
- Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
- Benjamin Moore Nimbus
And lastly, here’s a list of Benjamin Moore darker blue-gray colors that go with BM Smoke –
- Benjamin Moore Wolf Gray
- Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue
- Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
What Trim Colors Go With BM Smoke?
Smoke by Benjamin Moore must be used with a fresh and clean white trim for a sense of visual contrast. You can even choose lighter warm white paint colors for the trims, moldings, and ceilings with this paint color. Also, you can choose cool-toned white colors that may have a blue or gray undertone but that wouldn’t be my first choice.
Fond of the idea of color-drenching a room in BM Smoke? Well, you can definitely do that! As far as your space receives ample incoming natural light – you can definitely color drench and create a moody appeal. In a different sheen of course, for instance, choose Eggshell for the walls, semi-gloss for the trims, and matte or flat for the ceiling! Here’s a list of Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Behr paint colors that can work as the ceiling and trim colors with BM Smoke.
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
I’d personally recommend SW Pure White trims, moldings, and ceilings to go with BM Smoke walls. Especially if you’re looking for a calm, clean, and seamless approach, this trim color is definitely to go! Pure White ceiling and Smoke walls will make a sophisticated contrast and can be used to make your home feel timeless.
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
Benjamin Moore White Dove is a classic choice for the trims, moldings, and ceiling with BM Smoke walls. Especially if you have a warm-toned color palette in your home – this color on the ceilings is bound to work effortlessly.
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
BM Chantilly Lace is another clean and bright white paint that works wonderfully with Benjamin Moore Smoke paint color. In the case of contemporary, modern farmhouse, Scandinavian, and modern design styles – this trim color will never disappoint you and also create a visual contrast! Definitely one of the best trim colors to go with BM Smoke!
- Behr Ultra Pure White
Lightest and cleanest of them all, Behr Ultra Pure White is a clean and bright white paint that makes the ceilings appear higher and your dull corners brighter. A must-recommend for BM Smoke paint color!
Where To Use Benjamin Moore Smoke in Your Homes?
As mentioned earlier, Smoke by Benjamin Moore can make a classic choice for any corner of your home. As far as you use the color as a base or an accent, it should be good to go! Well, if you’re excited to have a look at some inspirations of how this color has been used creatively, here’s a list to follow!
Benjamin Moore Smoke Kitchen Cabinets
Add BM Smoke on the kitchen cabinets for an absolutely flawless look! Especially for coastal homes and beach houses, add a touch of this blue-gray color on the kitchen cabinets for a calm and serene vibe. You can even choose a dual-toned kitchen concept and pair this color with either SW Pure White or BM Chantilly Lace on the upper cabinets.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Laundry Room
BM Smoke is a very popular choice for the laundry cabinets. Especially if you’re looking to make that little space stand out, choose this calming shade of blue! Furthermore, you can choose to pair this color with satin brass hardware and lighting fixtures.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Bathroom Vanity
Bathroom Vanity is a great surface to flaunt off the beauty of BM Smoke. Oh yes, whether it’s the powder bathroom or the master bathroom, Smoke can definitely add a punch of visual interest to the space. You can further pair this color with patterned flooring and white backsplash tiles to complete the look.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Interior Front Door
Are you looking to add a sense of color to your foyer? Well painting the front door in Benjamin Moore Smoke is definitely a great way to do so! Especially with the white walls around, BM Smoke can make an outstanding accent! You must definitely pair this color with satin brass pull handles and hardware.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Color Drenching
Color drenching a room in BM Smoke can make it feel eclectic, larger, bright, and enchanting! Yes, it will also exhibit a designer-like look if you choose to paint BM Smoke on the walls, trims, ceilings, and cabinets. However, allow this color palette in a room that receives ample incoming natural light.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Wainscotting
Do you have a tiny bathroom space to deal with? Well, it’s recommended that you choose to accentuate the wainscotting in BM Smoke and further choose the walls and ceilings in a warm or cool-toned white paint color. Your vanity can either be natural oak, walnut, or painted in BM Smoke itself.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Equivalent Colors
Comparing colors is always helpful since you get the idea of the true undertones of a paint color. After all, that’s how we know how a paint color is lighter/darker or warmer/cooler than the others!
Here, some closely similar paint colors are Benjamin Moore Yarmouth Blue, Sherwin Williams Tradewind, Benjamin Moore Pale Smoke, and Benjamin Moore Brittany Blue.
Let’s see how they differ!
Benjamin Moore Smoke vs Benjamin Moore Yarmouth Blue
Benjamin Moore Yarmouth Blue is slightly less dusty than BM Smoke! With an LRV of 55.82 – this color is just slightly darker than BM Smoke. Well, the hidden green undertones in Yarmouth Blue are slightly greater than BM Smoke.
Benjamin Moore Smoke vs Sherwin Williams Tradewind
Sherwin Williams Tradewind is a soft and subtle gray-blue paint color with an LRV of 61. This color is definitely lighter than BM Smoke with an equivalent degree of blue and gray undertones. So, maybe yes – one or two shades lighter than BM Smoke.
Benjamin Moore Smoke vs Benjamin Moore Pale Smoke
Benjamin Moore Pale Smoke is a smoky blue gray paint color with a major green undertone. This color has an LRV of 63.6 – hence, lightest of them all! So, if you’re looking for blue-gray paint color that has a considerable green undertone – choose BM Pale Smoke. This is also a muted and subdued blue-gray paint color.
Benjamin Moore Smoke vs Benjamin Moore Brittany Blue
Benjamin Moore Brittany Blue is slightly bluer and grayer than Benjamin Moore Smoke. With an LRV of 61.48 – this color definitely falls on the lighter end of the scale. So, if you’re looking for something slightly neutral and less green – BM Brittany Blue is definitely something to have an eye on.
Benjamin Moore Smoke Takeaway
Is Benjamin Moore Smoke one of your favorite classic blue-gray paint colors? Well, are you excited to incorporate this color into your home? It’s definitely one of the best blue-gray colors to have in your home on the accent wainscotting, built-in shelves, and kitchen cabinets. So, without any delay, paint that fresh coat of this versatile blue color and let your home feel moody and calming again!
