Looking for the perfect neutral gray paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Benjamin Moore Thunder and if it might be right for your space!
Gray is a great neutral and works well with most decorating styles. But it can be hard to narrow down all of the grays.
Some lean cool with blue or green undertones, and some are very warm with beige undertones.
There are many, many gray paint colors out there. So, where do you start?
Let's talk about Benjamin Moore Thunder. It just may be the perfect neutral gray paint color for your space!
Thunder, Benjamin Moore, AF-685
Benjamin Moore Thunder is a neutral gray paint color that straddles the line between warm and cool. It works well in most homes, making it a great choice for paint color!
Thunder was part of Benjamin Moore's Color Trends 2020 Palette.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Thunder!
Color Family
Thunder is in the gray color family.
Light Reflectance Value
48
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 48, Thunder is a mid-toned gray.
RGB Colors
R: 190 G: 183 B: 173
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!
When all three values are similar in value like this, it means the color is a neutral.
Hex Code
#beb7ad
Undertones
Thunder has subtle greige undertones. It has very slight purple undertones in certain lighting.
Thunder is one of those paint colors that is a perfect balance of warm and cool undertones. It may look warmer in south-facing rooms and cooler in north-facing rooms. The subtle purple undertones may appear in rooms with cool lighting.
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
Thunder is neutral enough to work as a whole house paint color.
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Home exterior
- Interior doors
- Cabinets
- Furniture
Similar Colors
- Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray
- Behr Glasgow Fog
- Benjamin Moore Himalayan Trek
- Benjamin Moore Shale
- Benjamin Moore La Paloma Gray
- Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray
- Benjamin Moore Silver Fox
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Thunder!
Coordinating Colors
As a neutral gray paint color, Thunder pairs well with virtually any color. It looks great with blue-grays, soft pinks, dark grays, bright whites, greens, blacks, browns and golds, among other colors.
Blue-grays:
- Smoke
- Cloudy Sky
- Oxford Gray
- November Skies
- Evening Dove
Soft pinks:
- First Light
- Honey Hut
- Tropical Sand
- Pale Cherry Blossom
- Victorian Lace
Dark grays:
- Steel Wool
- Stone
- Gray (yes, it's really just called Gray!)
- Kendall Charcoal
Trim Colors
BM Thunder is a neutral gray paint color that would pair well with many white paint colors for trim.
However, because it can show slightly purple undertones in certain lighting, it's best to go with a cool, bright white color for trim.
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin Williams Extra White
- Behr Ultra Pure White
Benjamin Moore Thunder 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!
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Thunder!
BM Thunder FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Benjamin Moore Thunder!
Is BM Thunder warm or cool?
Thunder is a good balance of warm and cool undertones. It might just be the perfect neutral gray paint color. In some lighting, it has very subtle purple undertones.
What colors pair well with BM Thunder?
As a neutral gray paint color, BM Thunder pairs well with virtually any color. It looks good with BM Smoke, BM First Light, BM Steel Wool and BM Simply White, among other colors.
What is the difference between BM Thunder and SW Mindful Gray?
BM Thunder and SW Mindful Gray are very similar paint colors. They both have an LRV of 48, which means they will reflect the same amount of light back into a space.
BM Thunder has subtle greige undertones, along with some slight purple undertones in certain lighting.
SW Mindful Gray has gray and greige undertones, plus slight blue and green undertones in certain lighting. It's always best to swatch paint colors in your specific space before committing.
What color trim goes with BM Thunder?
BM Thunder is a good neutral gray that would work well with many white paint colors for trim. However, because it can showcase slightly purple undertones in some lighting, it's best to go with a cool, bright white trim color such as BM Simply White, SW Extra White or Behr Ultra Pure White.
What is the difference between BM Thunder and BM Revere Pewter?
BM Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55, and BM Thunder has an LRV of 48, which means Revere Pewter is slightly lighter and will reflect more light back into a space.
Thunder has greige undertones with some slight purple undertones in certain lighting.
Revere Pewter has subtle green undertones.
Overall, Thunder is more neutral and Revere Pewter often presents as more of a greige. It's always best to swatch paint colors in your specific space before committing.
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!
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.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
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.
