Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe: A Complete Color Review

Looking for the perfect warm neutral paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe and if it might be right for your home!

Warm, neutral taupes are the perfect mix of beige and gray. These stunning neutrals provide a rich, calming backdrop. They feel cozy and relaxing while just dark enough to not get washed out.

Warm taupes are extremely versatile, pairing well with a variety of design styles, finishes, and other paint colors.

Warm neutrals vary widely, from soft whites to beiges, tans, taupes, even grays. Undertones and LRV make a huge difference! Let's talk about one such popular neutral, Smokey Taupe by Benjamin Moore.

Smokey Taupe, Benjamin Moore, 983

Smokey Taupe is a warm, neutral taupe combining brown and gray to give a space a peaceful, soft feel. We love it in living areas and kitchens.

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Smokey Taupe

Color Family

Smokey Taupe is in the neutral family.

Light Reflectance Value

55

Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100 with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.

With an LRV of 55, Smokey Taupe is a light to mid-toned paint color. It's light enough to feel airy while still providing enough color depth to not get washed out in bright spaces.

RGB Colors

R: 205 G: 196 B: 181

RGB describes the amount of each color - red, green, and blue - present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!

Hex Code

#CDC4B5

Undertones

Smokey Taupe is a warm taupe with brown and gray undertones. It also has a very subtle pink undertone.

Unlike many other taupes, Smokey Taupe does not show a green undertone.

In a north-facing room, Smokey Taupe will lean more greige, while in a south-facing room, Smokey Taupe looks warmer and more beige.

Best uses

Smokey Taupe is neutral enough that it works as a whole home paint color, or it can be used for any room of your home.

Use Smokey Taupe in:

• Living rooms
• Bedrooms
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Home exterior
• Interior doors
• Cabinets
• Furniture

Similar Colors

• Benjamin Moore Alphano Beige
• Behr Scenic Path
• Sherwin Williams Slumber Sloth
• Benjamin Moore Ashen Tan
• Behr Sculptor Clay
• Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
• Benjamin Moore Mocha Cream

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Smokey Taupe

Coordinating Colors

Smokey Taupe is light and neutral enough to pair well with many other colors. It looks great with creamy whites, deep, warm neutrals, and soft shades.

In general, Smokey Taupe looks best with colors that are darker than it or with significantly lighter (white) colors. Colors with a similar color depth can just look kind of murky when paired together.

Soft whites:

• Cloud White
• White Dove
• Swiss Coffee
• Steam
• Moonlight White

Deep, warm violet-browns:

• Mink Violet
• Pinch of Spice
• Sequoia
• Bonne Nuit
• Cinnamon Slate

Soft mid-toned blues:

• Wedgewood Gray
• Rhine River
• Gossamer Blue
• Yarmouth Blue
• Paradiso

Trim Colors

In general, I like to use a creamy or soft white as a trim color with warm-toned beige, taupe, and greige paint colors.

Soft white trim colors:

• Sherwin Williams Alabaster
• Benjamin Moore White Dove
• Behr Cameo White

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Smokey Taupe

FAQS

Here are some common frequently asked questions about Smokey Taupe.

What color is smokey taupe?

Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe is a warm taupe with brown and gray undertones. It appears warmer and more beige in brighter spaces and more greige in darker spaces.

Does BM smokey taupe look green?

While many taupe paint colors have a green undertone, Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe does not, so it will not appear green.

In well-lit spaces, Smokey Taupe will look warmer and more beige. In darker spaces, it will look more greige.

What are the undertones of Benjamin Moore's smokey taupe?

Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe has warm brown and gray undertones, along with a subtle pink undertone. It does not boast green undertones like many other taupe paint colors do.

Smokey Taupe will look warmer / more beige in south-facing rooms with lots of natural light and more greige in north-facing rooms that lack natural light.

Is smokey taupe warm or cool?

Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe is a warm neutral paint color.

What colors go well with smokey taupe?

Smokey Taupe is light and neutral enough to pair well with many other colors, including soft whites, deep warm neutrals, and soft colors.

Try pairing it with Cloud White (a soft white), Mink Violet (a warm deep violet), or Wedgewood Gray (a soft blue).

What is the LRV of BM Smokey taupe?

Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe's LRV is 55, making it a light to mid-toned paint color. Smokey Taupe is light enough to feel airy while still providing enough color depth to not get washed out in bright spaces.

Thanks for reading!