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    Home » Blog

    Benjamin Moore Soft Fern: A Complete Color Review

    Published: Jan 18, 2025 · Modified: Dec 18, 2024 by Meg · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Looking for the perfect pale green paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Benjamin Moore Soft Fern and if it might be right for your home!

    Greens have always been one of my favorite go-to colors.

    They’re timeless, no matter what’s trending, and there’s just something about a soft, muted green that feels so fresh and calming.

    I think green works so well because it reminds us of nature. It brings a peaceful, grounded feeling into a room—like a little slice of the outdoors.

    There’s so much you can do with greens. Let me show you why this color family is worth considering for your space!

    Benjamin Moore Soft Fern Paint Color Guide

    Soft Fern, Benjamin Moore, 2144-40

    Soft Fern is a pale, soothing green that brings a feeling of calm and relaxation.

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Soft Fern

    Color Family

    Soft Fern is in the green family.

    Light Reflectance Value

    57

    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 57, Soft Fern is a light to mid green. It’s not overly saturated but still provides some color.

    In bright, natural light, it’ll look lighter, while in darker spaces, it takes on a slightly deeper tone.

    RGB Colors

    R: 200 G: 202 B: 178

    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

    #c8cab2

    BM Soft Fern
    BM Soft Fern

    Undertones

    Soft Fern has gray and some subtle yellow undertones.

    In bright, sun-filled rooms, especially south-facing rooms, it can appear slightly warmer, with more of its yellow undertones coming through.

    In spaces with less natural light, such as north-facing rooms, Soft Fern leans cooler, taking on more of a green-gray shade.

    It's very important to swatch colors on your wall to make sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.

    Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!

    Best uses

    Soft Fern works beautifully in a variety of spaces. Here are some of the best places to use it:

    • Living rooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Home exterior or doors
    • Furniture
    • Interior doors
    • Kitchen cabinets or island

    Similar Colors

    • Benjamin Moore Grecian Green
    • Behr Chilled Cucumber
    • Sherwin Williams Acanthus
    • Benjamin Moore Harbor Town
    • Behr Morning Zen
    • Sherwin Williams Liveable Green
    • Benjamin Moore Guilford Green

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Soft Fern

    Coordinating Colors

    Soft Fern is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a range of colors. Here are some great options:

    • Warm neutrals like soft whites, grays, browns, and blacks
    • Earthy tones like muted blues, greens, burgundy, and violets

    Dark blue-grays:

    • Wolf Gray
    • Black Pepper
    • Eclipse
    • Smoke Gray
    • Britannia Blue

    Soft whites:

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

    Mid to mid-dark greens:

    • Eucalyptus Leaf
    • Home on the Range
    • Nature's Reflection
    • Chopped Dill
    • Oak Grove

    Trim Colors

    You can pair Soft Fern with soft white trim colors.

    Soft white trim colors:

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

    Soft Fern Color Palette

    Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home's aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!

    Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!

    Benjamin Moore Soft Fern Color Palette

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Soft Fern

    FAQS

    Here are some common frequently asked questions about Soft Fern.

    What are the undertones of BM Soft Fern?

    Soft Fern has gray undertones that soften the color and slight yellow undertones that add a touch of warmth.

    What color is BM Soft Fern?

    Soft Fern is a pale, muted green with subtle gray and yellow undertones.

    What's the difference: BM Soft Fern vs October Mist?

    Soft Fern and October Mist are both pale, muted greens, but they have key differences:

    • Soft Fern (LRV 57) is lighter and more muted.
    • October Mist (LRV 47) is deeper, slightly more saturated, and leans more green.

    Soft Fern has a slight yellow warmth, while October Mist feels cooler and more neutral.

    Swatching them side by side will help you decide which one works best for your space.

    BM Soft Fern
    BM Soft Fern
    BM October Mist
    BM October Mist

    What's the difference: BM Soft Fern vs SW Liveable Green?

    Both are soft, pale greens, but there are a few differences:

    • Soft Fern (LRV 57) is darker and more saturated.
    • Liveable Green (LRV 61) is lighter and more muted.
    • While both have gray and yellow undertones, Liveable Green leans more yellow overall.

    If you’re unsure, I recommend swatching them both on your walls to see how they look in your home.

    BM Soft Fern
    BM Soft Fern
    sw liveable green
    SW Liveable Green

    Is BM Soft Fern warm or cool?

    Soft Fern is a warm green, thanks to its subtle yellow undertones.

    Does BM Soft Fern go with warm or cool whites?

    Soft Fern pairs beautifully with soft, warm whites.

    For trim, I’d suggest trying BM White Dove, BM Swiss Coffee, SW Alabaster, or Behr Cameo White.

    These whites create a clean, polished look that complements Soft Fern’s warmth perfectly.

    BM White Dove
    BM White Dove
    BM Swiss Coffee
    BM Swiss Coffee
    SW Alabaster
    SW Alabaster
    Behr Cameo White
    Behr Cameo White

    Before you go...

    So, you've found the perfect paint color, but here's the thing - there's another big decision you have to make: picking the right paint sheen. Seriously, the level of glossiness can totally change how your color looks on the walls and how long the paint lasts!

    Check out our complete guide to understanding paint sheens.

    Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?

    Choosing paint doesn’t have to be stressful! My free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide walks you through the exact steps to confidently choose the perfect color — without the overwhelm, second-guessing, or endless swatch testing.

    👉 Click here to download the free guide!

    paint color formula square mockup

    My Paint Color Formula course walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.

    Learn more about the Paint Color Formula here!

    The best way to sample paint? Samplize!

    Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!

    Thanks for reading!

    meg-hemmelgarn-headshot
    Meg

    Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.

    More Green

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      Sherwin Williams Thunderous: A Complete Color Review
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      The Best Dill Green Paint Colors
    • Behr Fig Tree Paint Color Guide
      Behr Fig Tree: A Complete Color Review
    • Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze Paint Color Guide
      Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze: A Complete Color Review

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