If you’re looking for a soft muted green to add a little life to your space, Benjamin Moore October Mist 1495 may be just the color you’ve been searching for! This gorgeous sage paint color was Benjamin Moore’s choice for 2022 Color of the Year. It’s colorful and warm, yet calm enough to be a “new neutral.”
What is the “Undertone” of October Mist?
Typically when people ask this question what they really want to know is whether there are any “hidden” colors in the paint that will sneak up on you once it’s on the walls. October Mist is pretty obviously green. Looking at its spectral data more closely, we can see that it has a hue angle of 115.818°. This puts October Mist in the Green-Yellow hue family.
What does that mean? Simply put, that close proximity to a warm color like yellow makes October Mist a warm green (as opposed to a cooler green that would be closer to blue on the wheel). October Mist is also grounded with a generous dose of gray, making this a lower chroma (less vivid, less colorful) paint color. That’s why it works so well as a neutral!
Want to learn how to simply and accurately identify a paint color’s hue family? In my online course, Color By The Numbers™, I show you how easy it is to locate spectral data and how to use it to evaluate colors.
What is the LRV of October Mist?
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100% being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. October Mist has an LRV of 46.54%, which means it will reflect a moderate amount of light. It can look a bit dark on the wall in low-light situations. When given a reasonable amount of light, however, it lightens quite a bit while still holding its color. Remember, your quality of light changes throughout the day so view a sample on all walls and in a variety of artificial and natural light.
You must sample this color in the space you intend to use it before you start putting it on your walls and trim! (We mail 8″ x 10″ paint swatches of our recommendations to our Virtual Color Consultation clients.)
Which White Trim Color Goes with October Mist?
You’re pretty safe with most white paint colors since they’re such a stark contrast in value (lightness/darkness) to October Mist. I like Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White CC-20 for a soft, clean trim color. For a bit more crispness, try Benjamin Moore Super White OC-152 (a.k.a. PM-1).
What Other Paint Colors Go Well With October Mist?
October Mist looks great paired with other low-chroma earth tones (meaning, warm colors that have been toned down with a heavy dose of gray). It also looks great paired with some soft and subtle greige and taupe paint colors. Take a look at Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2022 Palette below for examples:
Is October Mist a Good Exterior Paint Color?
If you’re looking for a green that isn’t overwhelmingly vivid or colorful, October Mist can be a gorgeous choice. Just be sure it complements your other exterior features, like your roof, brick, or stone.
What Other Paint Colors Are Similar to October Mist?
If you like October Mist but don’t have access to Benjamin Moore paint, I’d take a look at Sherwin-Williams Grassland 6163. PPG also makes a beautiful paint called Light Sage PPG1124-4 that’s comparable, as well as Desert Pear S19 by Dulux. If you’re looking for a color that’s similar, but more muted/less green, check out Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray HC-111.
As a reminder, I don’t recommend color matching between different brands. I have seen clients do this for any number of reasons (to save a little money, their contractor will only work with a specific brand, lack of access, etc.). But the bottom line is that you cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results.
You may get really close. You may even get a color you can live with if you’re lucky. But with color matching, there are no guarantees because different brands use different formulas, bases, and proprietary pigments. Ultimately, it will be a different product.
Need Help Choosing a Color?
Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project.
One Room Paint Color Report | Virtual
Need help choosing the best paint colors for your room? Then this is the (virtual) service for you! Based on your questionnaire responses and uploaded photos, we’ll create a personalized digital Paint Color Report just for you. We’ll also send you paint swatches! Click below to learn how it works or to get started!
Exterior Paint Color Report | Virtual
Ready to give your home exterior a fresh new look, but feeling overwhelmed with the decision? Get a little virtual help from the color experts at Three Bears Home Staging! Based on your questionnaire responses and uploaded photos, we’ll create a personalized digital Paint Color Report just for your home’s exterior. We’ll also send you paint swatches! Read below to learn how it works…
