Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28: Paint Color Review

Have you picked Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood OC-28 and want to know how it performs? Well, I’m excited to take you on a journey of discovery of this popular gray paint color. I know you must have heard a lot about it, but is it worth all the hype?

Collingwood is usually the go-to for gray paint colors that act neutral but show only a little undertone. Not everyone is a fan of grays with obvious undertones, especially if they are violet or blue, but you may find that this paint color is versatile and may perform better than expected.

When to Choose Benjamin Moore Collingwood

It is one thing to have several beautiful paint options but entirely different when it is time to decide when to choose one. Collingwood is flexible, so let’s see some ideas when it is more suitable than similar colors.

Looking for a soft and creamy gray?

Collingwood is one of the softest grays you will find and holds up well in any light. If the setting and lighting are right, Collingwood may give a slightly creamy look and feel.

Need to keep your decor cozy and inviting?

As a slightly warm color, Collingwood brings a soft glow that makes the decor cozy and inviting. It may be the ideal paint color to soften bold colors or wood tones.

Don’t have enough direct sunlight?

Collingwood works well in a room with direct sunlight but also holds up well in one without direct sunlight. You can use it in any room you like, but keep in mind that it may appear slightly muted in rooms with low light.

There’s a reason Collingwood is one of the most popular Benjamin Moore gray paint colors. These are only pointers to using this amazing gray but not all of it. I can’t wait to show you more, so come along with me to learn more about it.

What Color Is Collingwood?

This name is popularly known as that of a town in Ontario, Canada. It is also the name of a ghost town in Queensland, Australia, and the last name of a British philosopher. In all, there’s nothing to indicate that these are the origin of the paint color’s name.

Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood OC-28 is a light gray paint color that may read greige in some settings. It brings a certain softness and laid-back elegance, which are some of the attributes that make it popular.

A Snapshot of Benjamin Moore Collingwood Specifications

There are certain details of Collingwood that make it different from other colors. The same is true of every paint color. So, let’s look at this chart to see these details, which I’ll explain later on in this guide.

	Benjamin Moore Collingwood
RGB	211, 206, 196
LRV	61.52
Undertone	Purple
HEX Code	#D3CEC4

 

Benjamin Moore Collingwood: Understanding the LRV

Have you seen LRV while researching paint colors without knowing what it means? LRV is the light reflectance value of color and indicates, on a scale of 0 to 100, the amount of light the color reflects. Black is close to 0, while white is close to 100.

The scale is slightly different for paint colors; it goes from 2.5 to 94. The reason is simple; there are no true blacks or whites in paint colors. Therefore, it helps you determine how bright or muted any paint color is just by looking at the LRV.

Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood has an LRV of 61.52. While it is not very high, this value means the color reflects a good amount of light for a gray paint color. But you can’t mistake it for an off-white or anything brighter.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood: Examining the Undertone

Every paint color has an undertone, regardless of how neutral it claims to be. The same is true for Collingwood, which has a soft violet undertone. This hue is not immediately obvious, so don’t worry about having to deal with a gray paint color that looks purple.

This first photo truly represents Collingwood without undertones. It looks bright and slightly warm.

But the undertone becomes obvious when the setting is right, as in this next photo.

Under bright light, Collingwood can look a little like beige or appear to be an off-white paint color. It is truly chameleon-like, although it works just about anywhere.

How Does Benjamin Moore Collingwood Feel in a Room?

How the paint color feels in a room depends on how you use it and the lighting condition. Collingwood is a soft and beautiful color, but it may show a lot of purple if the lighting is low or cool.

It may also appear greige in low light. It doesn’t always show purple when the light is cold or where there’s no direct sunlight.

And while it makes a small space feel big yet cozy, you may not be a fan of grays with obvious undertones. But a lot rests on the lighting in the room and other elements surrounding it.

However, if you want a neutral to use as a backdrop for vibrant colors, Collingwood is an excellent option. And if you have soft pastels to add, they blend well with the neutral color because of the purple undertone.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood: Warm or Cool?

Collingwood is neutral, and although the brand says it has lightly cool undertones, this gray paint color can also read warm. You can see that from some of the photos above.

Therefore, it is safe to say it balances between warm and cool. It is not so warm that it feels overwhelming or looks beige but not too cool that it feels cold or icy.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration

I’ve carefully picked paint colors from the same strip as Collingwood to give you alternatives if you find the main hue is too dark or too light. Find them arranged from light to dark for easy reference.

• Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23
• Benjamin Moore Wind’s Breath OC-24
• Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC-27
• Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28
• Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth CC-490

Benjamin Moore Collingwood Complementary Color

When you look at a color wheel, you’ll notice that the colors are arranged in a careful manner. The arrangement is not random but is done to show the relationship between colors.

Complementary colors are opposite each other on the wheel and cancel each other when mixed to produce a grayscale color such as black, gray, or white. Popular examples include green and red, yellow and purple, or orange and blue.

Collingwood is gray, and while grays are not technically on the color wheel, this paint color is not your usual shade of gray. So, you can find its complementary color, which is a light shade of blue-gray. Benjamin Moore’s Angel’s Wings 1423 is the paint color that matches this shade of blue. Sherwin Williams’ Daydream SW 6541 is an alternative to keep handy if necessary.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood Coordinating Colors

You may be surprised to find that some colors pair so well, even when they look different. They are coordinating colors, and these colors flow seamlessly in a color scheme because of the similarities they have. Some of the coordinating colors for Collingwood are Silhouette, Amazon Soil, and White Heron.

• Benjamin Moore Silhouette AF-655: A super luxurious paint color that balances between chocolate and charcoal, softening the gray Collingwood.
• Benjamin Moore Amazon Soil 2115-30: A paint color the shade of plum, Amazon Soil brings out the soft violet in Collingwood so they pair well.
• Benjamin Moore White Heron OC-57: A bright white paint color that complements the warmth of Collingwood when used as a trim color.

Benjamin More Collingwood Color Palettes

To create a color palette, you must decide what type of color scheme you want. You may want to keep things neutral, which means selecting colors similar to the central hue or creating versatility. So, here are color palette ideas to follow.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Rockport Gray HC-105: A medium gray that looks creamy and deep, whose slightly violet undertone makes it blend with Collingwood.
• Waterbury Green HC-136: A slate green with hints of gray and blue that complement Collingwood in a relaxed way.
• Steam AF-15: A bright white paint color with enough warmth to work as a trim or ceiling color for Collingwood walls.

Monochromatic Color Palette

• Stone Hearth CC-490: A mid-tone gray that brings depth to a monochromatic decor and works with Collingwood as its trim color.
• Balboa Mist OC-27: A gray paint color that is lighter than Collingwood but blends in a monochromatic decor because of its violet undertone.
• Classic Gray OC-23: A much-lighter shade of gray to brighten the room if there is not enough natural light.

Coordinating Color Palette

• White Heron OC-57: A bright white paint color that complements the warmth of Collingwood when used as a trim color.
• Amazon Soil 2115-30: A paint color the shade of plum, Amazon Soil brings out the soft violet in Collingwood so they pair well.
• Silhouette AF-655: A super luxurious paint color that balances between chocolate and charcoal, softening the gray Collingwood.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood vs Similar Colors

Let’s compare Collingwood to some similar colors to see if there’s any difference. You may find a better option on this list.

BM Nimbus vs BM Collingwood

Nimbus is darker than Collingwood, with an LRV of 59.4. Its greige shade makes it pretty similar to Collingwood, despite the difference in LRV.

BM Balboa Mist vs BM Collingwood

Both colors are in the family and color strip, but Balboa Mist is lighter because of its higher LRV. It is ideal if you want a lighter option.

SW Agreeable Gray vs BM Collingwood

Agreeable Gray from Sherwin Williams is darker than Collingwood, with an LRV of 60. Also, it has a green undertone, while Collingwood has purple.

BM Abalone vs BM Collingwood

There’s not much difference between these colors. They have the same purple undertones and close LRVs, but Abalone is just a smidge lighter at 61.99.

BM Edgecomb Gray vs BM Collingwood

Edgecomb Gray has a green undertone, while Collingwood has a purple undertone. Besides, Edgecomb Gray is slightly lighter than Collingwood.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color Equivalent to Benjamin Moore Collingwood

The difference between Collingwood and Sherwin Williams Gossamer Veil SW 9165 is almost non-existent, although they are not exact equivalents. You can also compare Collingwood to Agreeable Gray SW 7029; the difference is more obvious because of the undertones.

Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore Collingwood?

Interior and exterior decor styles love Collingwood because of how it blends with different colors and its softness. So, here are real examples of Collingwood in use in different rooms.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in a Bathroom

Collingwood is bright enough for a bathroom, even if you plan to use only artificial light.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in a Powder Room

You can see that purple undertone I’ve been talking about in this powder room.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in a Basement

This is not your typical basement, but Collingwood will still look great in a basement with only artificial lighting. Here, the paint color makes the room cozy and stylish, looking almost white.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood on Exterior Walls

It may be a bright color, but Collingwood holds up well outside in bright natural lighting.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in a Bedroom

This room uses Benjamin Moore’s Dark Forest Green on the accent wall and Collingwood on the rest of the walls.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in a Living Room

This living room with a view is inviting because of the warm colors.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood on Kitchen Walls

The white cabinets in this kitchen contrast well with the gray walls, and none of the colors look washed out.

Best Trim Color for BM Collingwood Walls

Bright whites like White Heron or Steam are ideal for the trim if the walls are Collingwood. However, you can opt for a darker color, like charcoal gray, for a striking effect.

Best Ceiling Color for Benjamin Moore Collingwood Walls

I would stick with white because it makes the wall color pop. Try BM Chantilly Lace because of its brightness and lack of obvious undertones.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in an Entryway

Collingwood looks great, as many warm grays do, in an entryway since it allows you to add other colors for effect.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood on Kitchen Cabinets

Collingwood looks like an off-white paint color on these cabinets, thanks to the lighting in the room. The color contrasts beautifully with the gray walls.

Conclusion

Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood is a beautiful and soft gray paint color that sometimes looks like greige. This may be because of the slight warmth it shows in certain lighting conditions, but the color also has a cool cast, especially in cold light.

It has an LRV of 61.52 and a purple undertone. Collingwood can take on different shades, depending on how and where you use it. Pair it with warm reds, violets, blues, and greens for the best effect. You can also use light neutrals with it; follow my guide to find suitable color palettes.

I have you have the best time picking the right colors to match Collingwood and using the colors. Don’t hesitate to reach me with more questions and decor ideas in the comments section.