SOURCE: Studio McGee
Yes, I’m at it again. I’m campaigning to make sure all of you know the many benefits of Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak. If you’re a neutral paint lover then you’ve likely come across Pale Oak and had it recommended to you numerous times. And if you’re a regular reader here you’ve probably already heard me share my enthusiasm for it as well.
Before you run to the paint store you may also want to understand how Pale Oak compares to another of Benjamin Moore’s most beloved neutrals and that’s Classic Gray. Let’s dig in…
PALE OAK vs CLASSIC GRAY
As you can see from the images below, Classic Gray is a little bit more gray than the taupe of Pale Oak. This is the biggest differentiator between the two so depending on your needs one or the other may feel like the correct choice.
Undertones And Your Neutral Paint
SOURCE: Keri McKay
The main reason we experience issues with paint is because of the undertones. What looks great in the paint store under their bright light might look like a completely different colour in your own home. This is usually because of the undertones and while it’s most impacted when using a neutral paint colour it can happen with dark colours as well.
All neutral paint has undertones of green, blue or pink/violet. It’s possible to have an undertone that’s a combination of these but one or more of these exist as an undertone in all neutral paint.
What to Know About Undertones of Pale Oak
SOURCE: Pinterest
Like I mentioned, every neutral has an undertone and this one leans toward pink. Before you turn away thinking I don’t want a pink room just bear in mind that the word is undertone. The colour is still greige but in certain instances you’re going to notice that slight hint of pink arises. This becomes more problematic If your other fixed elements in the space don’t play nicely with that. That’s where you’ll be bothered by it. It can also be a benefit because its what gives this colour some warmth.
Seeing the undertone is not a bad thing. You might love that if you’re trying to create an office or a girl’s bedroom. However, if this colour is going into your living room and you live in a home full of boys and men you might not be looking for a paint that reads pink. If you want to neutralize the undertone of Pale Oak don’t add more of the same but rather look at adding in blues and greens to help pull out the gray in the greige.
What to Know About Undertones of Classic Gray
SOURCE: Sherri Calnan
There’s a good reason that these two paint colours are compared to each other and that’s because they’re both greige paint with pink undertones. If you have a south facing room with lots of natural light you may see a tiny bit of that pink/violet appear occasionally but I honestly wouldn’t be too concerned about it.
As always, test the paint before you commit to it and this will allow you to see whether you’ll be able to detect the undertones.
Lighting and Your Neutral Paint Selections
SOURCE: Ringsend
It’s next to impossible to truly understand a colour until you’ve seen it in various lighting conditions. As you probably know a paint is composed of several colours mixed together to create that one unique colour. Any of those seemingly insignificant colours can affect what we see.
For instance, just a drop of dark green can bring that green tint to the surface under some light. You always want to view your colour choices during daytime, afternoon and night light so you know what you’ll be getting into.
How Lighting Affects Pale Oak
SOURCE: Pamela Lynn Interiors
If you want to paint and your room is southern exposure you’ll likely fall in love with Pale Oak. It tends to warm up even more when exposed to strong sunlight. If you really love the beige aspect of this beige/gray paint then it’s an excellent choice for a light filled room.
If on the other hand you have a northern exposure and little natural light you may feel this colour leans too much in the direction of gray. It’s also beautiful and there’s no reason to avoid it unless that’s not what you want from the colour.
How Lighting Affects Classic Gray
SOURCE: Benjamin Moore
One of the cautions when working with neutral paint is to be sure that it won’t end up being washed out by rooms that have lots of natural light. This can happen with Classic Gray because it’s so pale.
During the daytime when there’s lots of strong light flowing into a southern exposure Classic Gray can appear dull and closer to white than a beautiful neutral taupe. For any other exposure this colour is a winner but be careful with southern exposures.
Best Pairings for Neutral Paint
You might think you’re limited when using a neutral paint but it’s quite the opposite. Not to worry because neutrals are flexible and work well with both deep, saturated colours as well as white paint options. I think there’s nothing more classic than a taupe and white combination.
Dark colours like forest green or navy look wonderful with any shade of beige, taupe or sand. If you have a lot of dark furniture and you want to lighten the room a neutral will be your best friend for the job.
What to Pair With Pale Oak
Any deep colour will look great paired with a taupe like Pale Oak. From black to navy to red or even pink, this is a very agreeable neutral.
Since we’re dealing with warm pink undertones you’ll want to use warm whites to accent this paint colour. Anything too stark is going to look off and create a contrast that isn’t pleasing to the eye.
1/ Hale Navy HC-154
If you’re painting the walls of your kitchen Pale Oak but want to do something more dramatic on your cabinetry, this is a beautiful pairing.
2/ Middlebury Brown HC-68
If you want to add some drama but keep the palette neutral try a chocolate brown like Middlebury Brown. This will give your home a more dramatic feel without adding colour.
3/ White Dove
This is one of the warmest of the Benjamin Moore white collection. This white sits firmly in the middle of warms and cools so it’s a great choice for Pale Oak.
What to Pair With Classic Gray
Since Classic Gray leans more towards gray versus taupe I like to pair this with a warm colour. I don’t want to see any coolness coming from Classic Gray and that can happen if it’s paired with a cooler palette.
1/ Dinner Party AF-300
2/ Smoke 2122-40
A lot of blue paint can lean towards the cooler end of the spectrum. This one is a tried and true favourite that will always warm up the space. It’s a great pairing with the soft neutral of Classic Gray.
3/ Chantilly Lace OC-65
This is the designer’s favourite selection when a pure white is what’s required. It contains almost no perceptible undertone although we know that doesn’t exist.
Where to Use Neutral Paint
Both Pale Oak and Classic Gray are excellent choices to be used almost everywhere in your home. In fact, I can’t think of a single place I wouldn’t use it. Walls, doors, cabinetry and even ceilings look great with this colour.
In case you’re wondering how I feel about neutral paint for the exterior of your home I am a huge fan. I think this is a warm and welcoming colour that you could use for your entire exterior or just a front door.
PRO TIP: Always sample your paint before you commit to buying and painting your whole space. You want to see it under various lighting conditions so don’t rush this decision.
Let me know which is your favourite neutral paint colour. Or if you have another favourite not mentioned here I’d love to hear about that as well.
And if you’re struggling with selecting paint colours on your own, contact me. I can help you pick colours that work with your home and will be perfect the first time.
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.
