Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154: Review & Inspiration

Have you ever wondered why blue is such a popular and well-loved color? Apart from being beautiful, the color is soothing and fits just about any room. And that is why navy blues like Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy are stunners in every situation.

If you’ve been in the market for a navy blue paint color, you must have come across Hale Navy and the reason is apparent. I mean, it’s a stunning color. But is all the hype worth it? Let me show you how Hale Navy performs and explain all its aspects in this guide.

I’m sure you can tell I’m already excited, so without further ado, let’s get right to it.

When to Choose Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Since it’s such a bold color, it can get confusing knowing when to pick Hale Navy for any room. Its boldness and depth can get too much for a space if you’re not careful, so here are a few ideas to maximize its beauty.

Need a striking contrast for light colors?

Because Hale Navy can be overwhelming due to its rich hue, you may want to use it minimally, playing it against light colors. The contrast will leave you stunned by its beauty.

Looking for a stunning accent or accessories color?

Hale Navy is one of the best colors for an accent if the predominant color in a room is light and bright. It brings a certain sophistication to the entire decor without taking all the attention or overwhelming the space.

Thinking of changing your cabinet color?

Many people are already using navy blue as the color of choice for kitchen islands and cabinets. Hale Navy looks amazing on cabinets and doesn’t reveal dirt because it’s dark.

Want a bridge for warm and cool shades?

While it’s blue, which is typically a cool color, Hale Navy can surprise you with how versatile it can be. It’s not an icy color and with its deep shade, it can hold up well with warm colors if paired well, especially because of its undertone.

You picked Hale Navy for a specific reason, and believe it when I tell you the color doesn’t disappoint. These are only ideas to get you started; there’s more where those come from. So, stick around as we delve further into exploring this paint color.

What Color Is Hale Navy?

With its peculiar name, you would think there’s a special story behind it. However, there’s nothing to point to the fact that the name came from anything special. That doesn’t make the color any less striking. If anything, the name makes it even more mysterious.

Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy HC-154 is a full-bodied navy blue paint color that is reminiscent of the sea and brings with it a level of mysteriousness. If you want to create a sophisticated, elegant yet beautiful look in your decor, Hale Navy should be one of your top considerations.

A Look at the Details of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

A quick and comprehensive view of all the key details of Hale Navy tells all you need to know. And what better way to give you this clear view than using a chart? You can quickly tell the color’s LRV and undertone, crucial details that make all the difference.

	Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
RGB	67, 75, 86
LRV	8.36
Undertone	Gray, green
HEX Code	#434B56

 

The LRV of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

You may have already seen this term but have no idea what it means, but LRV means the light reflectance value of color. On a scale of 0 to 100, every color reflects light; the close it is to 0, the darker it is. And the closer it is to 100, the lighter it is.

But paint colors are slightly different; they use a scale of 2.5 to 94. This is because there are no true black or white paint colors; each has a degree of other colors under it. In different lighting conditions, these colors show on the surface.

Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy has an LRV of 8.36, which is pretty close to the darkest end of the spectrum. That said, it is still a little away from 0, and that means it reflects some light, albeit very little.

The Undertones of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Some navy blues are termed true navies, but that is because they show minimal undertones, not that they have none. Hale Navy is not a true navy because it clearly shows its gray undertone.

The gray in it grounds it from being too bright. In certain lighting, you may also notice a hint of green in the color.

To put it in perspective, this is what Hale Navy looks like without visible undertones.

And this is Hale Navy looking a little like charcoal because of its gray undertone.

The adjacent wall in this picture looks a little green-gray but is actually Hale Navy. It perfectly complements the geometric wallpaper and the couch.

Does Lighting Affect Benjamin Moore Hale Navy?

Like many other colors, Hale Navy can take on different hues when exposed to different lighting conditions. Sometimes, it appears bright, and at other times, it looks more gray than blue. Then, you may also find it looking darker than usual, almost black.

Hale Navy looks grayer than usual on this accent wall, although the lighting is bright. However, it’s not warm enough to deepen it. In other words, the hue may change if there is direct sunlight.

I can’t neglect to point out that the surrounding elements are also crucial to how the color turns out. In this next photo, Hale Navy looks like its true self, bluer than in the previous photo, and this may have something to do with the colors around it.

But here, because of the lack of direct light, the room casts shadows on the color, making it appear closer to black than navy blue.

In warm light, the paint color looks totally different from what you’ve seen so far. It’s easily the bluest shade that the color has appeared.

How Does Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Feel in a Room?

Hale Navy is a rich color that gives a room sophistication, elegance, and a cool vibe. As the brand says, it’s a use-anywhere kind of color, so it fits just about any room, including bathrooms and nurseries.

However, you must bear in mind that the hue that makes it so special also makes it overwhelming. Hale Navy can overwhelm a small room if used on more than one wall.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration

You may find Hale Navy a bit too heavy or different from what you have in mind. If that is the case, I’ve picked and arranged alternatives from the same color strip as Hale Navy. Mix and match until you find the perfect balance.

• Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue HC-156
• Benjamin Mooe Newburyport Blue HC-155
• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154
• Benjamin Moore Midnight Blue 1638
• Benjamin Moore Polo Blue 2062-10

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Complementary Colors

These are colors opposite each other on the color wheel. They don’t have to match, but they cancel each other when mixed to create a grayscale color like black or white. Hale Navy is not your regular blue or navy blue, for that matter.

While you will find navy blue on the color wheel, the particular Hale Navy shade is not there, but it’s still easy to find. The complementary color is a shade of dark brown with a hint of orange or red.

Benjamin Moore’s Classic Brown 2109-10 is close to this color. You can also try Sherwin Williams Rookwood Dark Brown SW 2808 if you want a different brand.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Coordinating Colors

Sometimes, you see colors that don’t seem to match perform excellently when paired in a room. They may complement each other in more ways than one because of underlying similarities lost to the untrained eye. Coventry Gray, White Dove, and Lenox Tan are some of Hale Navy’s coordinating colors.

• Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray HC-169: A mid-tone gray with minimal undertones, performing well with both warm and cool colors.
• Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17: A popular bright and warm white perfect for the trim or ceiling when the walls are done in Hale Navy.
• Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan HC-44: A medium khaki shade that brings warmth and elegance to a room.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Color Palettes

You can create any color palette that matches Hale Navy and fits your decor using this guide to start.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Classic Brown 2109-10: A deep and full-bodied brown paint color that works on accessories or upholstery when you use Hale Navy on the walls.
• Glacier White OC-37: A bright white with grayish-green undertones that surprisingly complement the Hale Navy hue.
• Metropolitan AF-690: A soft gray with a cool cast that softens the entire decor with its freshness and airiness.

Monochromatic Color Scheme

• Polo Blue 2062-10: A noticeably darker shade of Hale Navy that works to lighten the central hue when used minimally in a space.
• Van Deusen Blue HC-156: Another shade of navy blue but with a slightly lighter cast than Hale Navy, blending with the central color or working as an alternative.
• Newburyport Blue HC-155: Pick this color in place of Hale Navy if you want something different without going too far away from that specific blue shade.

Coordinating Color Palette

• Coventry Gray HC-169: A mid-tone gray with minimal undertones, performing well with both warm and cool colors.
• White Dove OC-17: A popular bright and warm white perfect for the trim or ceiling when the walls are done in Hale Navy.
• Lenox Tan HC-44: A medium khaki shade that brings warmth and elegance to a room.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Similar Colors

Let’s compare Hale Navy side by side with other colors that bear some similarities to it.

BM Old Navy vs BM Hale Navy

Old Navy is more of a true navy than Hale Navy, with blue undertones against the gray of Hale Navy. It also has a lower LRV of about 5, making it darker than Hale Navy.

SW Sea Serpent vs BM Hale Navy

Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent shows more green than Hale Navy. It also has an LRV of about 7, slightly lower than that of Hale Navy.

BM Newburyport Blue vs BM Hale Navy

Newburyport Blue is noticeably lighter than Hale Navy and has less green in it. However, both colors are on the same color strip, so they have similar undertones.

SW Naval vs BM Hale Navy

Although both have gray in them, Sherwin Williams Naval has less gray and looks bluer than Hale Navy.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color Equivalent to Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

There’s no exact equivalent to Hale Navy from Sherwin Williams because no two paint colors are ever the same. But Sea Serpent SW 7615 bears a close resemblance to Hale Navy. the same is true of Sea Mariner SW 9640.

Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore Hale Navy?

You already know that Hale Navy blends well in any room or decor as long as you know how to use it. The best step is to keep it minimal, but the choice is yours.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in a Powder Room

This powder room is goals with classic white and blue. The only difference is that the blue is the stunning Hale Navy.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in Hallway

While it may look heavy, Hale Navy works well in a well-lit hallway, especially if you lighten it with bright whites.

Best Trim Color for Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Walls

I recommend bright whites like BM Chantilly Lace or a warm white like White Dove.

Best Ceiling Color for Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Walls

As with the trim, white is the best color to use on the ceiling if the walls are a dark shade like Hale Navy. However, you can try something different if it’s a personal space, and you don’t mind that dark, brooding look.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on a Door

When other colors fail, try Hale Navy as your front door color. It’s close to black, so it’s not stark or bright.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in a Bedroom

As mentioned earlier, Hale Navy works well on accents, like in this next photo. The rest of the room is neutral, so the color truly stands out.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in a Bathroom

Since it’s a great cabinet color, you are more likely to see Hale Navy on the vanity than on the wall in a bathroom. Still, it makes a striking appearance when the rest of the room is white or close to white.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on Kitchen Cabinets

As usual, this paint color looks great with white. You’ll also notice that this kitchen has dark-colored appliances, and Hale Navy fits right into the decor.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in a Dining Area

You can try this design idea in your dining room for a conversation starter.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in a Living Room

The rest of the room is done in BM Simply White, while one wall is Hale Navy.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on Trim

It’s not every day you see Hale Navy or any navy blue as the trim color. But the design in this room is different in a good way.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on Exterior Walls

You can use it as a whole-house color or in bits to get the right result.

Conclusion

There’s a lot you can do with Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy, whether the lighting is bright or low. It fits different decor styles and accommodates various colors. With a low LRV of 8.36 and gray and green undertones, Hale Navy is one of the best navy blue paint colors on the market.

Pair it with wood tones, white, light blue, green, beige, tan, and many other colors. But remember to test the color first before deciding to see how it looks when dried on the wall. Use it minimally to avoid overwhelming the space.

Let’s see your creativity at work and don’t hesitate to reach out to me in the comments section if you have any questions.