Choosing the right paint color can transform a space, setting the mood and influencing the overall aesthetic. One such color that has been gaining attention is Benjamin Moore’s Strand of Pearls CSP-395. Known for its nuanced hue and versatile application, this beautiful gray-beige is part of Benjamin Moore’s innovative Color Stories® Collection. In this review, we’ll examine what makes it unique, its undertones, light reflectance value (LRV), suitability for various applications, and how it compares to similar shades.
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What Color Is Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls? What Are Its Undertones?
Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls CSP-395 is a warm, inviting color that belongs to the Yellow hue family. Its precise hue angle of 95.024° places it firmly within this spectrum, giving it a warm, slightly opalescent quality. Unlike traditional paint formulations that might use black or gray colorants to mute the hue, Strand of Pearls avoids these additives, resulting in a color that’s rich, vibrant, and full of life.
The undertones of Strand of Pearls are subtly complex, a hallmark of the Benjamin Moore Color Stories® Collection. This collection uses a blend of approximately 5-7 pigments in each color, compared to the traditional 2-3 pigments. This sophisticated formulation allows Strand of Pearls to react to the light in a room, highlighting different undertones throughout the day. Expect to see hints of yellow and beige that can give way to a soft, warm greige in various lighting conditions.
Using the right color light bulbs will have a tremendous impact on this color. Under soft white bulbs (2700 K), Strand of Pearls will look a bit warmer. It may even look a bit peachy or pink. Daylight bulbs (4000+ K), however, will make it look grayer and possibly more purple. If your paint color doesn’t look quite the way you’d expected it to, take some time to evaluate the quality of your lighting. We recommend using light bulbs in the 3000 K to 3500 K range for the best, most natural-looking color results. Read our blog post for links to specific bulb recommendations.
See Related: How to Choose the Right Light Bulb for Home Staging
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What Is Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls LRV?
Understanding a color’s Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is crucial when selecting paint, especially for interior spaces. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects, on a scale from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (pure white). Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls has an LRV of 72, making it a light, reflective color. This high LRV means that it can help make rooms feel more open and airy, enhancing natural light and creating a welcoming environment.
Is Strand of Pearls Paint Color a Good Exterior Paint Color?
While Strand of Pearls CSP-395 shines in interior applications, Benjamin Moore does not recommend this color for exterior use. The nuanced blend of pigments and the light-sensitive nature of this color make it better suited for controlled indoor environments where its subtleties can be fully appreciated. For exterior applications, it’s better to choose a color formulated specifically for outdoor durability and light stability.
Which White Trim Color Goes With Strand of Pearls?
We prefer the contrast of a clean, low-chroma white paint, like Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65 or Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White 7757. If you prefer a clean white that’s a bit softer with only a touch more warmth, try Sherwin-Williams Pure White 7005.
Is Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls a Good Color for Kitchen Cabinets?
When it comes to kitchen cabinets, Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls CSP-395 offers a sophisticated yet subtle choice. The warm undertones and high LRV make it ideal for brightening up kitchen spaces, creating a clean and welcoming atmosphere. The color pairs beautifully with both modern and traditional kitchen designs. It works particularly well with white or light countertops, stainless steel appliances, and warm wooden accents, offering an elegant foundation for a variety of kitchen styles.
That said, it’s not a color we recommend often in our color consultations. Painting cabinets properly is typically an expensive investment, so most homeowners opt for a color that offers some versatility. Though beautiful, Strand of Pearls has a relatively high chroma value (meaning, it’s more colorful) compared to other popular neutral paint colors, giving it less flexibility.
Coordinating Colors: What Color Goes Well With Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls?
The soft, subtle lightness of this hue makes it ideal for coordinating with darker colors and even crisp whites form a beautiful contrast next to its quiet warmth Here are some excellent coordinating colors for Benjamin Moore’s Strand of Pearls:
- Rocking Chair CSP-400: This soft, romantic color adds a grounding element to the airy nature of Strand of Pearls.
- Modern Romance CSP-435: A rich, deeper hue that can introduce a gentle contrast and add depth to your palette.
- Chantilly Lace OC-65: A crisp, clean white that perfectly complements Strand of Pearls for a classic and timeless look.
- Cumulus Cloud1550: A soft, neutral gray that can balance the warmth of Strand of Pearls, creating a harmonious blend.
These coordinating colors offer various design options, allowing you to create different moods and styles in your home.
What Other Paint Colors Are Similar to BM Strand of Pearls?
If you like Benjamin Moore’s Pale Strand of Pearls, only get it mixed in a genuine Benjamin Moore paint product. I never, ever recommend color matching between brands. Differences in pigments, chemical composition, and paint viscosity between brands mean they will be different. You cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results. This is especially true with the precise color formulations used in the Benjamin Moore Color Stories collection.
That said, if you’re looking for a paint color with a similar vibe as BM Strand of Pearls and need to use another brand, we’ve got you covered! Here are a few dupes that are a pretty close match based on their spectral data:
- Sherwin-Williams Arrowroote SW 9502 (Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer Edition)
- Behr Crisp Linen MQ3-13
- PPG Focus 1008-1
Comparing paint colors that are similar to each other can be a useful tool when deciding what works best in your space. Here are a few popular comparisons and how they stand out from one another:
Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls vs Pale Oak
Comparing Strand of Pearls CSP-395 to another popular Benjamin Moore color, Pale Oak OC-20, reveals some interesting distinctions. Both colors belong to the Yellow hue family and have similar hue angles (95.02° for Strand of Pearls and 92.41° for Pale Oak). However, Strand of Pearls has a higher chroma value (7.75), meaning it has more vibrant yellow/beige tones compared to Pale Oak, which has more subdued gray undertones.
The most significant difference lies in their LRVs. Strand of Pearls has a higher LRV of 72, making it a lighter, more reflective color than Pale Oak, which has a lower LRV of 68.6. This makes Strand of Pearls a better choice for spaces where you want to maximize light and create a bright, airy feel, while Pale Oak is better suited for creating a more muted, cozy atmosphere.
Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls vs Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC-27 (also known as 1549) has a lower LRV (65.53). This means it will reflect less light and look a little darker on the walls. With a hue angle of 91.285°, it’s slightly warmer than Strand of Pearls. However, Balboa Mist’s lower chroma value (4.908) means it’s grayer and less colorful.
Need Help Choosing a Paint Color?
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Vannessa Rhoades
Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.
The Strand of Pearls paint chip looked lovely, so I purchased a sample pot of the paint. The first sample was much more pink than the chip — almost like calamine lotion. Benjamin Moore replaced it, and the second sample was better, but still not a match for the chip — more like a flesh tone this time. I understand Strand of Pearls has a number of hues in the formula, but you could be wasting your money buying a sample. Perhaps the proportions are so minute in the sample size that it’s difficult to produce an accurate representation of the color. Don’t know what would happen if a quart or gallon were purchased. This was disappointing for me as I had high hopes for this color.
Has anyone else had this problem with Strand of Pearls?
Hi Nancy! Yes, this is a pretty color, but it can be a bit fickle depending on its surroundings. Color perception is influenced heavily by your lighting and environment. This paint color leans into its warm, peachy side a lot more if you’re using 2700 K light bulbs (typically called “soft white). Sometimes simply adjusting your lighting can make a big difference! You can learn more about how to make sure you’re using the right light bulbs to evaluate your paint color in our blog post, “How to Choose the Right Light Bulb for Home Staging & Paint Color.” Purchasing a sample pot was also very wise — a larger surface area tends to reflect the light back to us differently than those tiny paint store chips. If you’ve got more paint projects coming up, take a look at our ready-made palette guides and swatches. These guides include real-life 8″ x 10″ paper paint swatches right from the manufacturer, so you can see exactly how the colors will look in your space before committing (without all those messy sample pots). You can find those here: https://threebearshomestaging.com/palettes/. Best of luck and happy painting!