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Pale Oak, by Benjamin Moore

Pale Oak is a popular off-white paint color by Benjamin Moore. It is included in Benjamin Moore’s Favorites fan deck, because it is a favorite pick for many homeowners.

Is Pale Oak the best choice for your home? Keep reading to find out all the details on Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak paint color.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you have any questions, please see my disclaimer page.

Pale Oak Paint Color Characteristics

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak Paint

Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak is a very light paint color that is a part of Benjamin Moore’s Off White Collection.

Pale Oak is a blend of beige and gray. Many would consider it a greige paint color, as greige paint colors are a blend of gray and beige. But, due to Pale Oak’s undertones, it is better classified as a taupe paint color.

Pale Oak has a bit more gray than beige in it, making it an updated paint shade that ranks alongside the other hot shades of the times.

Pale Oak LRV

Pale Oak has an LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of 69. LRV is a scale ranging from 0, which is completely black, to 100, which is completely white.

Pale Oak falls into the “light” range of colors. It will reflect a lot of light back into the room.

Pale Oak Undertones

In addition to having a gray and beige base, Pale Oak also has pink/purple undertones. This is what makes it best categorized as a taupe paint color.

Pink/purple undertones are not the most versatile though, so it is really important to try Pale Oak in your home before you paint your whole home in it. Many people like grieges with green undertones, as those are typically less offensive when they show though.

Pink/purple undertones, on the other hand, can be worrisome, as many folks don’t want to have a purple living or dining room.

But, this doesn’t mean that Pale Oak is a bad color. It just means that it is one that you NEED to sample in your own home before you paint.

Is Pale Oak Warm or Cool?

With those pink/purple undertones, Pale Oak is a warm paint color. It is friendly and inviting, making a space feel cozy.

Pale Oak Coordinating Colors

Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore

Pale Oak to go well with warm, dark grays, warm whites, dark blues, dark reds, warm browns and black shades.

Pale Oak and White Dove

Pale Oak and White Dove are two of Benjamin Moore’s most popular colors, and they go very nicely together.

White Dove is a soft, warm white paint color with just a hint of yellow.

Many like to use White Dove as a trim color for an elegant, muted trim shade. For myself, I like a brighter white trim, but I’ll talk more about that in a minute.

If you are looking for a warm white to go with Pale Oak, White Dove is a nice shade. The colors blend very nicely together.

Pale Oak and Revere Pewter

Similar to Pale Oak and Edgecomb Gray, you could use Pale Oak and Revere Pewter in the same home.

Revere Pewter is a good bit darker than Pale Oak though, the colors do tend to pair nicely together.

Pale Oak Color Scheme

Pale Oak is a gorgeous shade to use as an all-over the house color. But you’ll need the right paint shades to coordinate with it.

Here is an example of a Pale Oak color scheme, including Pale Oak, White Dove and Kendall Charcoal.

Pale Oak Benjamin Moore Coordinating Colors

Pale Oak Trim Colors

People frequently ask, “What white paint will go well with Pale Oak?”

Pale Oak is a light color, and so to have any sort of differentiation between the Pale Oak and the white, you’re going to need a pretty bright, clean white.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is a good white paint to go with Pale Oak. It is clean, bright and almost undertone free. Since it is such a white looking white, it is great color to pair with Pale Oak.

Click here to read all about Chantilly Lace.

If you want a white with a little more softness to it, Sherwin Williams Pure White is another white paint color that will go well with Pale Oak.

Pure White is my go-to choice for trim because it tends to go with most any other paint color. It is bright, and white, but has a bit of warmth and softness to it that keep it from being too stark.

Click here to read all about Pure White.

Pale Oak Benjamin Moore Trim Colors

What is the equivalent of Pale Oak in Sherwin Williams?

While there are no direct equivalents between Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint colors, there are some shades that are close to each other.

If you’re looking for a Sherwin Williams equivalent to Pale Oak, take a look at Egret White.

It is a taupe colored shade that is in Sherwin Williams Whites and Off-Whites collection.

Where Can I Use Pale Oak?

Pale Oak is such a light color that it can really be used anywhere in the home.

It can be used in a living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom or entryway.

Before you go painting your whole home in Pale Oak though, it is important to remember that Pale Oak has pink/purple undertones. This means that is might look pink or purple on your walls.

In some homes, in some lights, these undertones won’t be a problem. Pale Oak will show up like a beautiful, taupe colored off-white. But, you will need to check it in your own home.

The easiest way to do this is with a Samplize square – more on those later.

Pale Oak Compared

Each time that I do a full paint color review, I like to compare the paint shade to other paint colors that are either in the same color family, or have the same uses. Sort of like, if you are considering this paint color, you may also be considering this other one.

Comparing the paint colors to each other can be helpful in determining which one is right for your space.

For Pale Oak, we are going to look at other light gray or greige paint colors. Specifically, we’ll compare Pale Oak to Agreeable Gray, Balboa Mist, Edgecomb Gray, Classic Gray and Collingwood.

Pale Oak vs. Agreeable Gray

Agreeable Gray is Sherwin Williams top selling paint color. It is a greige paint shade, so a blend of gray and beige.

When we compare Agreeable Gray to Pale Oak, you see that Agreeable Gray is more gray than Pale Oak is. Pale Oak leans more towards beige than Agreeable Gray does.

Additionally, with an LRV of 60, Agreeable Gray is a bit darker than Pale Oak. It is going to look more saturated on your walls.

While Agreeable Gray is in no way a dark paint color, if your room doesn’t have a lot of light, Pale Oak may be a better choice.

But, if you want an easy, works with most anything paint color, Agreeable Gray is a clear winner.

Click here to read all about Agreeable Gray.

Pale Oak vs. Balboa Mist

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak vs. Balboa Mist

Balboa Mist is a popular Benjamin Moore paint color that is similar to Pale Oak. Balboa Mist is a taupe/greige with purple undertones.

Pale Oak is slightly warmer than Balboa Mist, due to the increased amount of pink in it. They have very similar depths and LRVs though.

To determine which one is better for your space, you are definitely going to have to sample them both. One may be perfect, while the other is awful.

Click here to read all about Balboa Mist.

Pale Oak vs. Edgecomb Gray

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak vs. Edgecomb Gray

Edgecomb Gray is a hugely popular greige/taupe paint color by Benjamin Moore. It is darker than Pale Oak, but not too much darker.

Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak are both mixes of gray and beige, but Edgecomb Gray has a bit more beige to it.

Both Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak carry a bit of a pink undertone as well. This means they’re both warm grays.

If you like a neutral with a little more beige in it, Edgecomb Gray may be your pick. But, if you’re looking for a neutral that is more of an off-white, Pale Oak is the better choice.

Pale Oak and Edgecomb Gray Together

People frequently wonder if Pale Oak goes well with Edgecomb Gray.

Pale Oak and Edgecomb Gray are similar colors, but they have enough differences to make them not a good match together.

But, while Edgecomb Gray is a bit darker, there isn’t enough difference between them to make either one really pop.

So, I wouldn’t necessarily use Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak in the same room, but you could use them both in the same house if you want.

Click here to read all about Edgecomb Gray.

Pale Oak vs. Classic Gray

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak vs. Classic Gray

Classic Gray is a warm gray paint color that is very light. With an LRV of 74, Classic Gray is more of a true off-white paint shade.

Classic Gray has very light purple undertones, similar to Pale Oak. But, Pale Oak has just a hint more beige in it than Classic Gray does.

Both are beautiful, and have very similar uses.

To determine which paint color is best in your space, compare each paint color to the fixed elements in your room, as well as your furnishings.

Pale Oak vs. Collingwood

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak vs. Collingwood

Collingwood is a warm gray by Benjamin Moore. It has purple undertones, along with a gray and beige base.

Collingwood is a bit darker than Pale Oak, but again, has very similar uses.

With these colors being so similar, the right pick for your house is going to depend on your lighting, fixed elements, and furnishings.

Wondering How To Pick the Perfect Paint Color?

I have the best solution for you!

Samplize sells peel and stick paint samples in almost every paint color.

These no-mess, peel and stick sheets are made from real paint, so they will show you exactly what the paint color will look like.

Simply place them on your walls next to your trim, furnishings or fixed elements, and easily see which paint color works best in your space and with your lighting.

Then, peel the sheet off your wall and reapply it somewhere else if you like. You can try several different paint colors with no mess, no fuss and no cleaning paint brushes.

SAMPLIZE Peel and Stick Paint Samples

Oh, and you can have them in your home by tomorrow with OVERNIGHT shipping!

As a bonus, be sure to use the code LoveRemodeled10 at check out to get an extra 10% off! Samplize sheets are cheaper than a sample can of paint, and way less work.

They are the easiest (and fastest!) way to try a paint color in your home, with no hassle.

Final Thoughts on Benjamin Moore Pale Oak

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak is a beautiful paint color, but is has to be used in the right space.

If you want a paint color that you can just choose without trying it out first, Pale Oak probably isn’t the best choice for you. Instead, Pale Oak is a paint color that requires getting a Samplize sheet or a sample can.

But, Pale Oak can be a perfect shade for the right space. It is light and airy, on-trend, and gorgeous!

Want to see all your paint options in one convenient place? Click here to get everything you need to start painting, including Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint color decks!

Pale Oak Paint Benjamin Moore

Have a question? Leave me a comment! Remember to check back for a response – it may take me up to a week or two depending on how busy I am, but I’ll be sure to get back to you!

Want to show off your project? Join the discussion in Love Remodeled’s Facebook group!

Thanks for sharing!

Tina

Thursday 1st of February 2024

My daughter's room is painted Pale Oak and it looks beautiful. Her room gets lots of light from a large west facing window, which works really well with Pale Oak. However, I tried to use Pale Oak in the main area of my home and all of angles with shadows looked purple. I wasn't a fan and ended up repainting with Etiquette by Benjamin Moore, which is slightly lighter and has fewer undertones than Pale Oak; it looks beautiful! It's amazing how different a paint color can look from one room to the next. You definitely have to put a sample of the paint on every angle to see how the color will look.

Lauren

Saturday 10th of February 2024

Hi Tina! Thanks so much for sharing your experience! You're definitely correct - colors can show up so differently depending on the room, the lighting, what is around, etc. That's part of why I love Samplize sheets (affiliate link). They allow you to move the paint color all around the house to see how it looks without having to actually paint spots all over. Then you can know if that Pale Oak will look perfectly neutral or completely purple. I'm glad you found a color that worked better for you!

Karen

Monday 29th of January 2024

Hi, I was thinking of painting my cabinets, pale oak, or a very light gray. My kitchen faces the west it’s a small kitchen. It doesn’t get much light maybe a little bit in the afternoon. I painted my walls white dove because I have all my walls in the living room and dining room white dove. It brightens of the small kitchen. I want a little contrast on the cabinets, any chance you can suggest a light gray or wood white dove look good on the cabinets also. I have a feeling if I paint white up on the cabinets the whole room will look like a Hospital. I’m keeping my ceramic off-white very light floors. I will probably go with a quartz counter probably white or a slight veining. Any suggestions on cabinet color? I’m pulling my hair out. Because the kitchen is small, I’m going to have a three seater island. I have one small window in the kitchen. my goal is to keep the kitchen light and bright, but have some contrast. My cabinet doors are going to be shaker style with brass knobs or handles. I like the classic clean kitchen look. Any suggestions on a cabinet color would be so helpful. The floors have a very slight gray, very light off white and a little beige hue, but come across as very light off white. I would appreciate any advice. Thank you so much.

Lauren

Wednesday 31st of January 2024

Hi Karen! A shade similar to Pale Oak may be just want you're looking for. It will give a little bit of contrast but will still be warm and light. A better option may be Classic Gray, or if you need a little more depth, you could even go with something like Gray Mist or Revere Pewter. Pale Oak has those purple undertones, so it wouldn't be my top choice with White Dove. For the quartz, I'd be careful to get one with warm tones that will coordinate with the White Dove walls. If you get one with blue undertones, you'll see some clashing. Just wanted to add that in so you don't end up with a costly mistake of the walls and countertops not working together. I'm sure it will all come together nicely in the end!