Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52: Paint Color Review

When you try to pick the best gray paint color for your decor, have you ever found yourself stuck between choices? It’s not strange because of the number of options, mainly because gray is a neutral color. However, Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl is exceptional in its versatility.

And because of this, I want to take you on this exciting journey to learn all about Gray Owl and how you can use it. This includes its LRV, the undertone, and how they affect the color’s performance. Are you wondering what they mean? Stick around to understand them.

When to Choose Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

There are truly no restrictions on when to choose Gray Owl. Because it is versatile, it fits any room or even on the exterior of your house. But let me give you specific ideas on when it works best.

Have a lot of warm light?

Because it typically presents a cool face, Gray Owl loves warm natural lighting. While most colors look great in warm sunlight, cool colors look better because of the contrast in tone. In cold light, cool colors tend to look somber and dull.

Using a cool color scheme?

Gray Owl blends well in a cool color scheme. So, try it with darker cool grays, blues, and greens without any hint of yellow, or crisp bright whites.

Want a central neutral color for your house?

If you are stuck trying to pick the best central color for your decor, consider using Gray Owl. It has enough depth to hold up without looking washed out, even in bright light. And it works well with complementary vibrant colors.

You may discover more about how best to use Gray Owl while decorating your home. But don’t go just yet; there’s more about the color to show you.

What Color Is Gray Owl?

There are different types of owls, such as the Tawny owl, the Snowy owl, and the Boreal owl. Then, there is the great gray owl, which is the largest type by its length.

It looks like it’s dressed in a gray suit with a bow tie, and its color is pretty close to this paint color. The species may be the inspiration behind the name. Here’s a look at the great gray owl.

Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl is a light gray paint color that works just about anywhere. This is one of the reasons it’s beloved by interior designers as it gives them no challenge to pair them with many colors.

A Snapshot of the Specifications of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

A chart makes it easy to see specific characteristics of this color in one place. You can easily refer to it when you need to decide about details such as the undertone and LRV. So, take a look at the chart below for a guide.

	Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
RGB	211, 212, 204
LRV	64.51
Undertone	Blue-green
HEX Code	#D3D4CC

 

The LRV of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

LRV is the light reflectance value of the color that designers and experts commonly use to determine how bright or dark the color is. The value uses a scale of 0 to 100, 0 being for black, while 100 is for white.

But paint colors differ slightly because there are no true blacks or whites. So, the scale is from 2.5 to 94. The lower the value is, the darker the color becomes, and vice versa.

Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl has an LRV of 64.51, which is bright enough for a gray paint color. This means the color reflects a good amount of light but not enough to qualify as a bright color.

The Undertones of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

Undertones refer to specific hues that show through to the surface of the mass color, or what you know as the main color. Grays may show no obvious undertones, but every color has one. So, you may find blue, green, or violet undertones in grays.

Gray Owl has blue-green undertones that flash in certain lighting. What you see depends on the room’s exposure and surrounding elements. Fortunately, the undertones are barely there, so they don’t overwhelm the color.

Here is Gray Owl, looking as cool as a cucumber, without visible undertones.

This next picture shows Gray Owl revealing its green undertone.

And in this lovely living room, you can see it flashing a little of its blue undertone, despite the bright natural light.

How Does Lighting Affect Benjamin Moore Gray Owl?

Light can change the paint color to look different. You see the undertones of Gray Owl with different lighting conditions. The paint color may take on a bright, barely-gray shade when the lighting is very bright, like in the picture below. Gray Owl is on the cabinets.

The same paint color is on these cabinets but looks slightly darker and slightly warm because of the type of lighting in the room.

In warm yellow artificial light, Gray Owl can take on a warm tone and may look slightly creamy or beige.

And when the light is not warm enough or bright, Gray Owl may look somber and more muted than usual.

How Does Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Feel in a Room?

If you have a small space, Gray Owl can give the impression of a larger room. The paint color brings a fresh coolness that every room needs.

Use it on accents or as the main color of the house because of how laid-back and relaxed it can be. You won’t regret using Gray Owl since it works well with many other colors and feels airily fresh.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl: Warm or Cool?

Gray Owl is slightly cool without being cold or icy. But the good news is that it can pair well with some colors with slightly warm undertones. However, some colors are clearly warm, and Gray Owl may not look so good with them.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration

You may want a lighter or darker option of Gray Owl because of your decor. If that is the case, you’ve come to the right place because I’ve carefully picked alternatives and arranged them from light to dark shades.

• Benjamin Moore White Wisp OC-54
• Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52
• Benjamin Moore Sea Haze 2137-50
• Benjamin Moore Desert Twilight 2137-40

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Complementary Colors

Gray Owl is gray paint color, and grays don’t technically appear on the color wheel. And since complementary colors are those that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, you may have some difficulty finding the complementary color for this paint color.

Not only do complementary sit opposite each other on the color wheel but also cancel each other. When this happens, they create a grayscale or neutral color. Examples include blue and orange or yellow and purple.

The complementary color for Gray Owl is a light shade of blue, and Violet Mist 1437 by Benjamin Moore is close to this shade. If that doesn’t suffice, try Sherwin Williams’ Lullaby SW 9136 for something different.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Coordinating Colors

These are colors that go well with each other when used in a color scheme. They may not look similar, but certain attributes make them pair well to create pleasing decor styles and colors. Paradiso, White Heron, and Midsummer Night are some of Gray Owl’s coordinating colors.

• Benjamin Moore Paradiso 717: A mid-tone blue that gives hints of gray to match colors like Gray Owl with its blue-green undertones.
• Benjamin Moore White Heron OC-57: A bright white paint color with a slightly cool undertone that works well as a trim color for the darker Gray Owl.
• Benjamin Moore Midsummer Night 2134-20: Dark brown tones make this black paint color look unique and bodied.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Color Palettes

I’ve picked three color palette examples to guide you on how to create yours.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Providence Blue 1636: A deep slate blue paint color with gray undertones that match Gray Owl.
• Amherst Gray HC-167: A versatile and sophisticated dark gray paint color that blends well with the lighter Gray Owl, although it is saturated.
• Hale Navy HC-154: A popular and versatile navy blue paint color with a cool feel that blends with the slightly blue-green Gray Owl.

Monochromatic Color Palette

• Desert Twilight 2137-40: A complex mixture of gray and olive with a bit of brown that complements the much-lighter Gray Owl.
• Sea Haze 2137-50: A gray-green paint color that reveals the green in Gray Owl when the colors are paired together.
• White Wisp 2137-70: A cool white with a slightly green cast for trims when the walls are done in Gray Owl.

Coordinating Color Palettes

• Midsummer Night 2134-20: Dark brown tones make this black paint color look unique and bodied.
• White Heron OC-57: A bright white paint color with a slightly cool undertone that works well as a trim color for the darker Gray Owl.
• Paradiso 717: A mid-tone blue that gives hints of gray to match colors like Gray Owl with its blue-green undertones.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl vs Similar Colors

Let’s see how Gray Owl looks when paired with similar colors, especially those with similar undertones and LRVs.

BM Wickham Gray vs BM Gray Owl

Wickham Gray has the same blue-green undertones as Gray Owl but is lighter, with an LRV of 67.87.

SW Repose Gray vs BM Gray Owl

Sherwin Williams’ Repose Gray is considerably darker than Gray Owl. You may only see the difference when they are placed side by side.

BM Stonington Gray vs BM Gray Owl

Stonington Gray has slightly blue undertones that may lean toward blue-green. But its LRV of 59.36 makes it darker than Gray Owl.

BM Moonshine vs BM Gray Owl

Moonshine has the same blue-green undertones as Gray Owl but is lighter because of its LRV of 66.53.

BM Gray Cloud vs BM Gray Owl

Gray Cloud is light, silvery, and icy because of the blue undertone. It also has an LRV of 69.7, which makes it lighter than Gray Owl.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color Equivalent to Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

You won’t find an exact equivalent from Sherwin Williams to match Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl. No two paint colors are the same, but you may find closely comparable ones. However, Sherwin Williams’ Silverpointe SW 7653 is almost an exact match for Gray Owl.

Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore Gray Owl?

I love telling you about this part because Gray Owl is versatile. That means you can use it anywhere; your decor style or personal preferences may be the only deterrent. Let’s see some real examples of where you can use Gray Owl.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on Bathroom Vanity

Everybody’s style is different but a soft gray can bring peace and calm in one of the most private spaces in a home.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on Kitchen Cabinets

This smooth and soft gray looks amazing in the kitchen, pairing well with the white walls.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in a Bedroom

This bedroom has Gray Owl on the walls and the ceiling. The wide beams make all the difference, bringing a rustic yet relaxing vibe to the entire room decor.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in a Laundry Room

You can see how creamy and smooth Gray Owl looks in this laundry room. It’s almost like a different color.

Best Ceiling Color for Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Walls

A true black or charcoal gray may look stunning in a room with Gray Owl walls. But I recommend you stick with white, especially if you want that bright look. Use neutral or crisp whites like BM Chantilly Lace or Super White.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in a Powder Room

Choosing a paint color for a powder room can be tricky, especially if it’s for visitors. You want to create a welcoming and cozy vibe while being practical. Consider using Gray Owl to balance the effect.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on Kitchen Walls

What would be the best cabinet color in a kitchen if the walls are Gray Owl? White is great, but try something different like dark gray, black, or navy.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in a Bathroom

This warm bathroom may have been overwhelming if not for the cool Gray Owl on the walls. The result is interestingly different.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in an Entryway

As a bright and cool color, you may be skeptical about using Gray Owl in an entryway. But it holds up well and has a welcoming feel that people love.

Best Trim Color for Benjamin Moore Gray Owl Walls

I recommend a cool or neutral white, but you can be unconventional and try a darker color.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in a Living Room

With bright white artificial lighting, Gray Owl looks spectacular in this living room. I love the blues and wound tones thrown into the decor.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on Exterior Walls

Gray Owl is not so light that it looks washed out in bright sunlight. So, you can use it on your house’s exterior if it fits your style. This house has BM Simply White and Gray Owl on the exterior.

Conclusion

Choose Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl if you want a light gray paint color that fits all decor types. It has minimal blue-green undertones, and with an LRV of 64.51, Gray Owl doesn’t need too much light to brighten a space.

You can follow my guide to create suitable color palettes or pick out colors that you prefer. But remember to test the colors using samples before committing to any of them. That way, you can determine how all the colors flow in a color scheme.