Benjamin Moore Spanish Olive: A Complete Color Review

Looking for the perfect gray-green paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Benjamin Moore Spanish Olive and if it might be right for your home!

Olive greens are having a major moment right now, and it’s easy to see why. They’re classic and sophisticated while still feeling fresh and modern.

What I love most about green is how it brings the calming, organic vibe of nature into your home, instantly making a space feel more relaxed and familiar.

Today, let's dive into the details of a gray-green that’s versatile, easygoing, and works well just about anywhere: Benjamin Moore Spanish Olive.

Spanish Olive, Benjamin Moore, 1509 or CC-606

Spanish Olive is a soft green-gray, bringing a sophisticated comfort to any space. It feels fresh and organic with enough edge to be on trend.

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Spanish Olive

Color Family

Spanish Olive is in the neutral family.

Light Reflectance Value

53

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 53, Spanish Olive is a light-medium paint color. It's bright enough for most rooms but still brings depth.

I think of it as a cozy neutral that never looks washed out, even in a sun-filled space.

RGB Colors

R: 197 G: 195 B: 174

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

#C5C3AE

Undertones

Spanish Olive is a gray with olive green and warm yellow and beige undertones.

In bright, south-facing rooms, Spanish Olive will lean into its yellow and beige undertones, giving the space a warmer vibe.

In darker, north-facing rooms, Spanish Olive will appear a bit cooler and show off more off its gray side. It will feel soft and sophisticated.

Best uses

Spanish Olive is soft and neutral enough to look great in just about any room:

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

Similar Colors

• Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage
• Behr Dune Grass
• Sherwin Williams Softened Green
• Benjamin Moore Paris Rain
• Behr Comforting Gray
• Sherwin Williams Ancient Marble
• Benjamin Moore Camouflage

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Spanish Olive

Coordinating Colors

Spanish Olive pairs beautifully with a range of colors, from neutrals to bolder shades.

It pairs especially well with warm whites and almost any shade of green, gray, blue, or violet.

Dark slate grays:

• Ashland Slate
• Trout Gray
• Gray Shower
• Ocean Floor
• Gunmetal

Soft whites:

• Mountain Peak White
• Simply White
• Cloud White
• Cotton Balls
• Snowfall White

Mid-toned olive green-grays:

• Dry Sage
• Cypress Green
• Thicket
• Texas Sage
• Victorian Garden

Trim Colors

Given its warmth, Spanish Olive pairs well with a soft white for trim.

Soft white trim colors:

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

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Spanish Olive

FAQS

Here are some common frequently asked questions about Spanish Olive.

Is BM Spanish Olive warm or cool?

BM Spanish Olive is a warm gray-green paint color. Its yellow and beige undertones contribute to its warmth.

Where to use BM Spanish Olive?

As a soft, almost neutral, BM Spanish Olive works virtually anywhere. Use it for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms.

Or you can use Spanish Olive as more of an accent color—interior doors, cabinets, a fireplace, or furniture.

What color is Spanish Olive?

Spanish Olive is a gray with olive green and warm yellow and beige undertones, giving it a soft, warm feel. It feels fresh yet sophisticated.

Is Spanish Olive good for a bedroom?

Yes, Spanish Olive is a good choice for a bedroom. It feels soft and comforting, while still feeling fresh and organic. It's a great choice for a room where you want to relax.

If your bedroom is south-facing and brighter, Spanish Olive will lean a bit warmer and more green-yellow. In north-facing bedrooms, Spanish Olive will look a bit cooler and more green-gray. Give it a swatch and see what you think!

What's the difference: BM Spanish Olive vs Paris Rain?

Spanish Olive and Paris Rain are very similar, soft, muted gray-greens.

Both have an LRV of 53, meaning neither is lighter nor darker than the other. Both are light-medium paint colors.

Spanish Olive is slightly more yellow and more saturated than Paris Rain.

Always swatch colors in your space before making a decision—especially when two colors are this close!

What color trim with Spanish Olive?

Given its warmth, Spanish Olive pairs well with a soft white for trim. My favorite choices for soft white trim are Behr Cameo White, SW Alabaster, or BM White Dove.

Thanks for reading!