Looking for a paint color that makes your home feel both refined and welcoming?
Benjamin Moore Collingwood might be your perfect match.
This smart, versatile gray color changes ordinary walls into refined, inviting spaces that feel just right.
It works in both modern minimalist homes and traditional settings, creating a backdrop that makes your furniture look exceptional.
With its soft greige undertones and subtle warmth, this color shifts beautifully throughout the day and always looks balanced.
It’s not just a flat gray – it’s a complex, living color that adds depth without feeling cold.
The best part?
It creates a timeless canvas for your home that works with virtually any decor style.
Understanding Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood (OC-28)
Benjamin Moore Collingwood (OC-28) is a refined, versatile paint color from Benjamin Moore that changes ordinary walls into refined, calming spaces.
This color works wonderfully in both contemporary and classic homes, creating a neutral backdrop that feels welcoming all year round.
You’ll find this color listed as OC-28 when you’re at the paint store.
Color Terminology
Let’s look at the numbers that tell us about this beautiful paint:
Here is the information presented in table format:
| PROPERTY | VALUE |
|---|---|
| RGB Value | 211, 206, 196 |
| HEX Value | #D3CEC4 |
| Light Reflectance Value (LRV) | 61.52 |
With its higher LRV of 61.52, it brightens rooms while still providing enough depth for interest.
Keep these RGB and Hex codes handy when shopping for matching furniture or decor online.
Undertones:
- It carries soft greige undertones with gentle taupe influences
- It’s a chameleon color that shifts slightly as the light changes throughout the day
- Not a flat gray, but a complex, refined shade that feels alive on your walls
Psychology of Neutral Colors
The paint colors we choose impact our daily moods and home atmosphere, especially versatile ones like this.
- Balanced neutral tones: Help create serene, composed environments
- Refined gray shades: Make decorating almost foolproof
- Adaptable wall colors: Look different but beautiful in morning and evening light
- Advantages: Creates a perfect backdrop for artwork, works with many decor styles, and offers a timeless look
People love this color because it feels both contemporary and classic at the same time.
You really can’t go wrong with Collingwood – it’s like a favorite cashmere sweater for your walls!
Why Choose Benjamin Moore Collingwood?
Benjamin Moore Collingwood is a refined, versatile gray paint color.
It makes rooms feel smart and inviting without being too cold.
This color works with many decorating styles from contemporary to traditional.
1. Versatility
This color shifts beautifully as light changes throughout the day.
Morning sunshine brings out its warm taupe tones, while evening light reveals its refined gray side.
It works wonderfully in living areas, hallways, bedrooms, and open floor plans.
This adaptable color looks amazing in both country farmhouses and modern urban spaces.
2. Key Features
This neutral color creates the perfect balance between warmth and coolness.
With its higher LRV of 61.52, it brightens spaces while still providing enough depth for interest.
This color has staying power because it feels both timeless and current.
Once on your walls, it makes both modern and traditional furniture pieces look even more beautiful.
3. Durability
In Benjamin Moore’s quality paint formulas, this color stands up to real life incredibly well.
The medium-toned gray conceals minor imperfections better than darker or lighter colors.
Its premium pigments maintain their gorgeous color even after years of cleaning, making your paint investment last longer.
Perfect for busy, high-traffic areas throughout your home.
4. Texture Patterns
This color creates a soft, subtle look that instantly makes rooms feel more expensive.
Its gentle greige undertones add depth without overwhelming your style.
This makes colorful artwork pop with clean contrast and transitions smoothly between connected rooms, letting your favorite decor shine.
Room Color Recommendations: Benjamin Moore Collingwood
This refined, versatile gray paint adds sophistication to any room.
It shifts throughout the day, showing warmer tones in morning light.
By evening, it displays cooler gray tones that feel serene.
The color works well in both contemporary and traditional spaces.
1. Living Spaces and Family Rooms
It truly shines in living and family rooms.
It creates a refined backdrop for everyday life.
- Provides a neutral canvas that makes living rooms feel luxury and welcoming
- Pairs beautifully with white furniture and natural wood accents for a cozy, refined look
- Try it with crisp white trim or brushed nickel fixtures to add contrast and modern flair
This versatile color handles changing light throughout the day.
Many homeowners find they love it even more as years pass.
2. Kitchens and Dining Areas
Kitchens and dining spaces benefit from this refined, practical color.
The neutral tone creates a gathering place everyone enjoys spending time in.
- Creates a fresh and welcoming atmosphere for family meals and conversations
- Pairs well with white or dark cabinets, offering a balanced and stylish look
- Its medium tone enhances colorful dishes and décor, making them stand out beautifully.
Painting just one accent wall can change your eating area.
Your kitchen will feel more custom and intentional with this color.
3. Bedrooms and Relaxation Spaces
Bedrooms need colors that help you unwind and rest well.
The color feels like a gentle welcome at the end of a long day.
- Change bedrooms into peaceful retreats for better sleep quality
- Soft greige warmth promotes relaxation and creates a sense of peace
- Pairs beautifully with soft whites, light blues, or sage greens
Many people report that their bedrooms feel more complete with this color.
It works in both spacious master suites and cozy guest rooms.
Color Pairings for Benjamin Moore Collingwood (OC-28)
This refined gray has beautiful depth that makes rooms feel refined.
It adds inviting grace to spaces with its neutral, versatile tone.
Its higher LRV of 61.52 creates bright spaces that never feel stark or boring.
Here are the perfect partner colors for this versatile shade.
Complementary Trim Colors
The right trim color makes this color shine in your home.
These colors create beautiful relationships with this warm, refined gray.
1. White Heron (OC-57)
A crisp, clean white that creates beautiful contrast against the walls.
It brightens the space while letting the refined gray be the star.
Perfect for trim, doors, and ceilings in living rooms and bedrooms.
2. Steam (AF-15)
A gentle, warm white that creates a subtle, cultured look when paired with the color.
This combo works beautifully in dining rooms and hallways for a cohesive feel.
The soft contrast feels luxurious without being too dramatic for everyday spaces.
3. Amazon Soil (2115-30)
A deeper, earthy tone that balances the lightness of the color perfectly.
Use Amazon Soil on an accent wall or furniture pieces for a grounded look.
This pairing creates peaceful spaces that feel both refined and warm.
4. Silhouette (AF-655)
A deeper charcoal that creates dramatic combinations with this color.
Try it on kitchen islands or accent furniture with Collingwood walls.
This rich pairing adds instant refinement to any room in your home.
Creating Cohesive Color Schemes
Benjamin Moore Collingwood pairs beautifully with many colors.
It helps create a connected feel throughout your home spaces.
| SCHEME | MAIN WALLS / AREAS | TRIM / ACCENT / CEILINGS | OTHER ROOMS / ACCENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monochromatic | Collingwood (OC-28) | White Heron (OC-57) | Nimbus (1465), Silhouette (AF-655) |
| Warm | Collingwood (OC-28) | Steam (AF-15) | Amazon Soil (2115-30), |
| Cool | Collingwood (OC-28) | White Heron (OC-57) | Nimbus (1465), Moonshine (2140-60) |
NOTE: All colors shown are Benjamin Moore paints. Always test samples on your walls before buying full gallons.
Coordinating with Furniture and Decor
This refined, versatile color gives your room an urbane feel.
It creates a perfect backdrop that makes your furniture stand out in a good way.
1. Wood Tones
Dark woods like espresso and ebony pop, creating a dramatic, smart look.
Medium woods create the perfect balance, making rooms feel harmonious without trying too hard.
Light woods brighten up the space and give a contemporary contrast to this neutral wall color.
The greige undertones in the color really enhance the natural beauty in wood furniture.
2. Metals
Silver and chrome fixtures look amazing with this color, adding a touch of contemporary grace that feels just right.
Gold and brass create a warm contrast that looks luxurious and fresh against the cool walls.
Black metal pieces stand out nicely, giving your space defined lines and a designer touch.
Brushed nickel hardware offers a subtle match that works well in kitchens and bathrooms.
3. Decor
Navy, burgundy, and forest green fabrics create a striking contrast against the neutral walls, adding depth to your design.
Green plants really pop against this color, bringing life to any room.
White accents create a clean, fresh look that draws the eye without being too stark.
Natural textures like linen drapes and wool throws complement this versatile tone, adding warmth to your space.
Similar Paint Color: Perfect Alternative to BM Collingwood
Nimbus (1465)
Has slightly cooler undertones that add a touch of serenity to your walls.
Creates a more tranquil, relaxed feeling compared to Collingwood.
Pairs beautifully with navy, light woods, and soft greens.
Nimbus (1465) envelops spaces in a misty, ghostly gray with subtle blue undertones that shift with the changing light.
This versatile neutral creates a serene, contemplative atmosphere that pairs beautifully with both warm and cool accent colors.
Final Thoughts
Benjamin Moore Collingwood brings sophistication to any room without being too cold or sterile.
It pairs beautifully with white furniture, natural wood, and both silver and gold fixtures.
This versatile color works in living spaces, bedrooms, and open floor plans, shifting with the light to keep your space feeling fresh.
This color is well-suited to daily life, providing a perfect neutral backdrop that works with changing decor styles.
If you choose this refined gray or similar options like Nimbus or Edgecomb Gray, you’ll create a timeless look that works with many decorating styles.
Ready to change your home with Collingwood?
Share your experiences in the comments below!
If you’re interested in more informational color review content, feel free to click here and explore other blogs that you might enjoy.
Alex Guerrero, a graduate with a Fine Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, has been a visionary in the world of color and design for over 15 years. His professional journey began in the heart of the fashion industry in Milan, where he developed an acute sense for color harmonies and trends. Alex joined our team in 2018, offering fresh and innovative perspectives on color utilization in various spaces. Renowned for his ability to blend contemporary trends with timeless elegance. Outside of work, Alex is an accomplished painter and a volunteer art therapist, his artistic talents further enriching his professional insights.
