Smoke Paint Color Review, by Benjamin Moore

Smoke is a light gray paint color with blue and green undertones by Benjamin Moore.

Benjamin Moore Smoke is a popular paint color, and is included in Benjamin Moore’s “Favorites” Fan Deck due to its wide appeal. It is one of Benjamin Moore’s best-selling paint colors.

Originally, Smoke was included in Benjamin Moore’s Color Preview collection, with the identifier 2122-40.

If you are looking for a paint color that is soft and smokey, keep reading for all the details on Benjamin Moore Smoke.

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What Color is Benjamin Moore Smoke?

Benjamin Moore calls Smoke a gray paint color, but I tend to think of it more as a blue/green shade.

Smoke does have a lot of gray in it, but the blue and green in it comes across a bit more prominently to me when I view it on its own.

Now, when Smoke is viewed next to other blues or greens, you really see how much gray it has in it though.

No matter which way you look at it, either as a gray with blue and green undertones, or as a blue green with gray undertones, the effect is the same.

Benjamin Moore Smoke is a blend of gray, blue and green. These shades come together in Smoke to create a soft, muted paint color that is elegant and mature.

Blue-green blends without gray can look juvenile, but when you add gray into the mix, the result is a grown-up paint color that is sophisticated.

Blue-green paint colors are some of my favorite shades, and Smoke is no exception. It looks gorgeous anywhere you put it.

In low or cooler light, Smoke will look more gray. In bright or warm light, you’ll see more of the blue and green in Smoke.

Benjamin Moore Smoke LRV

Smoke has an LRV of 56.

LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value. The LRV of every paint color is on a scale that goes from 0, which is completely black, to 100, which is completely white.

The LRV of a paint color tells you how much light a shade reflects back into the space. It is easier understood as a value that gives information about how light or dark a paint color is.

So, an LRV of 56 is close to the middle of the scale. While it is still considered to be in the “light” range, Smoke is almost a medium paint color, but not quite.

Basically, this means that Smoke can be used in a lot of space, but probably isn’t the best paint color for particularly dark spaces.

As with any paint color, Smoke will look its best when supported by adequate natural and artificial lighting.

Is Benjamin Moore Smoke Warm or Cool?

With its blue and green undertones, Smoke is a cool paint color.

Cool paint colors are shades that have blue, green and sometimes purple undertones. They tend to be calming and soothing, evoking a sense of relaxation.

Smoke is a very calming shade.

Coordinating Colors for Benjamin Moore Smoke

Smoke is a great paint color to use with whites, creams, some beiges, navy, or lighter or darker grays with similar undertones.

Benjamin Moore suggests pairing Smoke with Chantilly Lace and Steel Wool. Chantilly Lace is a bright white, and Steel Wool is a dark gray.

This clean color palette shows how Smoke can be used alongside other clean, cool paint colors to create a space with lots of contrast.

For a second color scheme, Smoke is paired with Cloud Cover and Wind’s Breath. Both are off-white paint colors. Cloud Cover is a little more gray, while Wind’s Breath has a hint of beige in it.

Together, this color scheme shows how Smoke can be used to create a soft palette in a home.

Benjamin Moore Smoke’s Color Strip

If you want to use Smoke with other blue-greens, consider some of the other shades on Smoke’s color strip.

Specifically, lighter shades such as Snow White, Palest Pistachio or Iceberg can be paired with Smoke to bring a brighter touch to the room.

To add more depth in the way of an accent wall, consider Cloudy Sky, Steep Cliff Gray or Dark Pewter.

Trim Colors for Benjamin Moore Smoke

Smoke looks great with a variety of white paint colors. If you’re looking for a white paint color for trim to pair with Smoke, here are two of my favorites.

First, Smoke goes really well with Chantilly Lace.

Chantilly Lace is Benjamin Moore’s lightest and brightest white paint color. It doesn’t really have much in the way of undertones, so it goes with pretty much any other shade. It’s great for someone who wants a really clean white trim.

If you like a white trim color but want a little more muted of a shade, Smoke also goes really well with Benjamin Moore White Heron.

White Heron is a white shade that is a little softer than Chantilly Lace. It will still look white on your trim, but definitely won’t be too stark.

Where Can I Use Benjamin Moore Smoke?

Benjamin Moore Smoke is a very versatile paint color. It can be used in a lot of different spaces.

Because it can look neutral, it’s a great all-over-the-house paint color for someone who wants a grayish paint color that has a bit of color to it. It will never just be a boring gray, and this makes it appealing to folks who like their home to have a neutral paint color with hint of character.

Specifically, Smoke can be used in a bedroom, bathroom, living room, entryway, kitchen, basement, and more. I love Smoke in a bedroom or a bathroom due to the soothing effect that it has.

Smoke works great with both wood and white trim.

Smoke is also a good color for an exterior. Remember, on a home’s exterior, Smoke will look a little lighter than it does inside.

Benjamin Moore Smoke Compared to Other Paint Colors

When I do a paint color review, I always like to compare the shade I’m talking about to other popular paint colors that are either in the same color family, or that have similar uses.

This can be helpful for people as they are trying to decide between two similar shades, and aren’t sure which is the best for their home.

For this review, let’s compare Benjamin Moore Smoke to Pale Smoke, Beach Glass, and Yarmouth Blue.

Benjamin Moore Smoke vs. Pale Smoke

Pale Smoke is a light blue-green paint color by Benjamin Moore. It is a good bit lighter than Smoke, and has more green in it as well.

When you compare the two paint colors together, Smoke looks a little more like a blue, and Pale Smoke looks a little more like a gray.

Pale Smoke might be a better paint color for someone who wants a cool gray with green/blue undertones, but doesn’t want to commit to a shade that may look like a blue-green.

Benjamin Moore Smoke vs. Beach Glass

Beach Glass is a medium blue-green paint color by Benjamin Moore.

Like Smoke, it is a blend of blue, green and gray. Beach Glass is a little darker than Smoke though, and also has a bit more green in it.

Beach Glass tends to look a little more muted than Smoke, both because it is slightly darker, and also because of its particular blend of blue, green and gray.

If you want a paint color with a little more depth, Beach Glass might be a good bet. It is also the better option if you want more green in your paint color.

Benjamin Moore Smoke vs. Yarmouth Blue

Yarmouth Blue is another popular blue-green paint color by Benjamin Moore.

Yarmouth Blue has less gray in it than Smoke though. When you compare the two paint colors together, you see that Yarmouth Blue is a little more “colorful”, while Smoke tends to become more grayed out.

Also, Yarmouth Blue has a bit more green in it than Smoke does.

Yarmouth Blue and Smoke will have about the same depth on your wall, so the best way to choose between them is to consider the other tones in the space and test each color against them to see which works better.

Also, consider whether you want a shade that looks more gray, or one that has a bit more color.

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Final Thoughts on Benjamin Moore Smoke

Benjamin Moore Smoke is a beautiful gray paint color with blue and green undertones.

In a room with brighter blue and greens, Smoke will look more gray. But, in a room with muted neutrals, Smoke will show off its blue and green undertones a bit more.

If you want a versatile shade that is neutral, cool, and elegant, check out Smoke. This soothing shade is a great choice for a bedroom, bathroom, or anywhere you want to give a relaxing vibe.

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