Colour is making a strong comeback this year but when you stand in front of a long wall of tiny paint chips in the paint store where does your eye go? For me, it’s always straight to the blue section. And I’m not alone because blue is one of the most popular colours being used in homes right now. I recently posted about my cottage renovation and it sparked a lot of interest (thank you, I adore her). The #1 question was about the paint colour I used. Yes, that deep, slate blue that is so captivating is none other than Benjamin Moore Flint. 

Flint is one of those colours that can feel scary to embrace but trust me, this is a winner! It’s technically a charcoal but the blue undertones in this are so strong that in certain lighting you’ll only see the blue. At the same time, what I love the most about this colour is that it doesn’t scream blue. It feels like a saturated neutral with a hint of colour.

If blue feels scary to you, green is another fan favourite at the moment and if you want to know why you can find out more in this post.

SOURCE: Favorite Paint Colors, Homebunch, REDB

QUICK FACTS

Benjamin Moore- Flint AF-560

• Dark blue-based charcoal
• Leans toward blue when combined with orange, red and yellow
• Pairs well with earthy tones

If you think it’s harder to pick a colour versus a neutral you’ll be relieved to know that’s not the case. Neutrals are more complex and their undertones make it hard to get them right for an untrained eye. Colour on the other hand is easier because what you see is what you get. Although you need to test for the lighting conditions in your home, the colour won’t change in its characteristics. 

Here’s where colour gets confusing. You may be looking at Flint thinking it’s a colour and you’re good to go. Since Flint is technically a neutral charcoal it does have undertones but they’re not complicated. The undertone is blue, plain and simple and that’s pretty easy for even a non-designer to detect.

WHY I LOVE THIS COLOUR

It’s a Chameleon and in the world of paint, this is something we all want to see. Sometimes it reads as dark gray and sometimes you’ll swear it’s just blue.  The reason that chameleon paint is so desirable is that when colour doesn’t adapt to the lighting (both natural and artificial) it can feel flat on a gray day or overwhelming in the evening. If you love your walls during the day but spend all day at the office and come home to an oppressive wall colour at night it’s not the right colour for you. Paints that change are the most liveable and Flint is the champion in this department.

It’s also a great colour if you have a lot of hard finishes and furnishings in your home in the gray range. Flint is a great transition colour. It allows you to bring in some colour into your space that can update your gray decor.

You’ve probably heard by now that gray is no longer the popular girl at school. She’s been replaced by warmer, creamer, neutrals. Think sand, beige and ivory. That doesn’t mean you have to replace all your gray furniture and countertops. It does mean that these warm neutrals are going to be showing up in every department of our favourite furniture and decor stores. 

If you’re thinking of buying some new furniture in the next couple of years, Benjamin Moore Flint will make the transition easy. While it’s going to show off your gray furniture you currently have, it will also look wonderful with anything you purchase in the warmer tones.

WILL FLINT WORK IN YOUR SPACE?

Flint pairs extremely well with flooring in the light to mid-toned category. If you struggle with a hardwood that you don’t love because it hints at orange, this is your colour. But it’s not just for correcting problems. Flint will enhance any hardwood, carpeting or tiles that fall into that light to mid-toned category.

As you can see from my cottage images, this colour doesn’t overwhelm a space at all. It’s a warm, inviting colour that creates a cozy feeling as opposed to creating a cool environment. Regardless of whether it’s summer or winter this colour is always on its best behaviour. It welcomes us back every single time we step foot into the space. 

TRIM COLOURS TO USE WITH FLINT 

Cloud White OC-130

If you want a creamier, warmer white you can’t ever go wrong with Cloud White. That’s why it’s remained relevant for sooooo many years. Cloud White has a yellow undertone (it will never read as yellow) that looks like a subtle off-white. If you’re afraid of using a cooler white with Flint, this is one for you.

White Dove OC-17

This white falls in the middle between Cloud White’s creamier tone and Simply White’s clean feel. It’s easy to use and that’s why it has endured as one of Benjamin Moore’s best selling colours.

Simply White OC-117

This colour is brighter than Cloud White. It also has a yellow undertone but it’s much less detectable. I’d say this is a more clean white but still won’t be cool when you pair it with Flint.

SIMILAR COLOURS TO FLINT

Deep Space 2125-20

There’s very little difference between Flint and Deep Space. They both have the same charcoal and blue combination but Deep Space is just a bit more saturated in colour.

Temptation 1609

This is another one that will trick the eye into thinking they’re the same colour. The differences really are almost indiscernible but once again, this one is slightly deeper.

Ocean Floor 1630

This one has more blue than Flint. Benjamin Moore describes it as steely blue as opposed to charcoal. Still very similar to Flint but I’d say it’s the cooler cousin to Flint.

So who’s ready to embrace the change to colour? I hope you’ve seen from my cottage images that there’s nothing to fear and everything to love about this wonderful colour. 

If you like to be on the cutting edge of things you need to jump on this. Unlike some of the other more well known deep blues and charcoals, Benjamin Moore Flint is a relative unknown. Now that we’re all embracing colour that won’t last long. So if you want to be a design aficionado jump on this first.

MY FINAL WORD

Always test your paint in your space before committing to the purchase. As I mentioned, lighting plays such an important role in how paint is perceived. You want to see the paint colour and how it behaves at different times of day as the light changes. 

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.