I know I’m not alone in my absolute love for this colour but can we all take a moment to appreciate how great Pale Oak is. It’s one of Benjamin Moore’s best selling paint colours and now that cream has taken the place of gray paint there’s even more of you running to Benjamin Moore for this colour.
This is a light neutral that I would classify as taupe greige. That means it lives right between a true gray and a true beige and has inherited some characteristics of each of those colours.
It’s been a wonderful transition colour for all of you who feel your furniture looks dated now that gray is gone. That’s because it helps to make your gray furniture look intentional rather than outdated.
I have used this colour in many of my clients homes but also in my own. If you ever wanted to know what colours designers are using the image above is a peek at my own house painted in Pale Oak.
Today I want to share some colour palettes that will help bring this neutral colour to life. Yes, it’s a great colour on its own but every space should be built around a palette of 3-5 colours. I’m giving you ideas on how to incorporate Pale Oak whether you’re looking for a warm, cool or bold palette.
3 Killer Colour Combinations Using Pale Oak
1/ Warm and Cozy
IMAGE SOURCES: Edward Deegan Architects & Interiors
If you want to create a serene and relaxing living space, Pale Oak could be the best starting point. It’s easy to use this neutral as a backdrop and continue creating a warm space using other complementary neutral colours.
I like to create a monochromatic look when I want a space to feel relaxing. The layering of neutrals from light to dark keeps everything cohesive while adding some interest in the changes to the hue.
Here I’ve selected a variety of neutrals that all work together and then add in one pop of colour. In this case I’ve used green but you can select whichever colour you like from blue to red to gray. Just remember that the pop of colour should be used sparingly on things like pillows and artwork. You want the rest of the space to continue the theme of calm and tranquil.
2/ Cool and Serene
SOURCE: Anne Hepfer
Some spaces in our home should feel fun and vibrant but when it comes to bedrooms I really believe your bedroom should feel like a retreat from the world. I love to create an environment that can be a sanctuary not just from the outside world but even to sneak off and have a little time alone and away from your family.
Pale Oak is a perfect starting point for creating a palette that’s cool, serene and calming. I love to layer soft colours together as a way to create the most calming, relaxing space possible.
I love the combination of soft blue and lavender together but in order to balance out the femininity of the palette I’ve added in a darker gray. This helps it become gender neutral and will work for couples who have a hard time nailing down a colour palette.
3/ Bold
SOURCE: Dililamp
SOURCE: Maison Olive
As much as I love to create a soft, warm environment I equally love to work on a space that’s dramatic and bold. There’s something invigorating about a space with lots of saturated colour.
One of the misconceptions about creating a bold space is that all the colours should be deep, dark and dramatic. That can work but it’s often hard to rely just on dark, saturated colours because the outcome can feel oppressive rather than daring.
Pale Oak is the perfect complement to all these bold colours and allows them to shine on their own without any competition. These kitchens are both a perfect blend of dark and light but the overall effect definitely feels daring and intrepid.
I’ve recreated this palette using pops of brown, blue and green. All of these colours are dark and dramatic but they’re not wild and they work beautifully together. You want to avoid going overboard with a bold look. Just lean into the idea of it but don’t try to be too different. Bold is created through the layering of deep colours as opposed to wild colours.
There’s virtually no space that can’t benefit from Pale Oak. It’s just one of those tried and true colours that designers (myself included) keep in their back pocket for regular use. And you know that when the cult following is composed of designers you’ll know you’ve found a winner.
If you need help selecting colours for your own home, contact me. I’d love to chat with you about how I can help select the perfect colours for your space and your needs.
If you know your design style but you struggle with which paint to use, take a look at my Made-For-You paint palettes. They take the guesswork out and give you the confidence to get started.
