Benjamin Moore Kendal Charcoal HC-166: Paint Color Review

Are you trying to decide whether Benjamin Moore’s Kendal Charcoal is the right paint choice for your decor? You may have hit the jackpot with this color because of its versatility and smoothness.

However, it’s okay if you feel the color is too deep and dark. The beautiful thing about Kendall Charcoal is that you don’t have to use it like every other paint color.

We will discuss several ideas for using it, managing its undertones, and the best lighting conditions based on its LRV. Ready to explore this color? I’m as excited as you are to know more.

When to Choose Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

You may be stuck with deciding how best to use Kendall Charcoal because of its deep color. If you are in this situation, let me give you a few ideas for starters.

Want to create dramatic kitchen decor?

Dark colors have a way of transforming rooms, especially if the rest of the decor is light-themed. Kendall Charcoal is one of the best colors to use on kitchen cabinets if the walls are a light color. This deep color holds up well with almost all colors if the lighting is right.

Thinking of upgrading the accent wall color?

Because of its dark hue, Kendall Charcoal looks best when used minimally. That’s why the accent wall will enjoy it best instead of painting entire walls with it.

Need a new front door color?

Kendall Charcoal brightens and doesn’t look too somber when used as an exterior color. While you can use any color on your front door, try this charcoal color, especially if you don’t mind black doors.

You may already know how to use Kendall Charcoal in your home, but these are also ideas to try. There’s much more to learn about this paint color, and I can’t wait to show you how well it works.

What Color Is Kendall Charcoal?

You can suspect the exact shade of this paint color by just looking at its name. There’s nothing to show that it has a special story behind it, but it’s still a pretty cool name for a paint color.

Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal HC-166 is a dark charcoal gray paint color that looks smooth and sophisticated in any room. The color holds up well in warm or cool light, although it may look different in these lighting conditions. I’ll get to that later.

A Snapshot of the Specifications of Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

I created a chart to show the specific characteristics of Kendall Charcoal that make it a unique paint color, including its LRV and undertone. A few other colors come close to its shade, so these characteristics explain how this is different.

	Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
RGB	103, 102, 98
LRV	14.61
Undertone	Green, gray
HEX Code	#676662

 

The LRV of Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

LRV is the light reflectance value of color and refers to how much light it reflects on a scale of 0 to 100. Black has an LRV of 0, while white has an LRV of 100. The darker the color is, the lower the LRV, and the higher the LRV is, the lighter the color is.

However, paint colors are a little different. While they use the same scale, the range is narrower, between 2.5 and 94. This scale shows you how light or dark a paint color is.

Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal has an LRV of 14.61. This value means the color is close to the darkest end of the scale, although it’s not too dark. But it doesn’t reflect a lot of light.

The Undertones of Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

Every color has an undertone, even gray paint colors. Some have obvious ones, while others have minimal undertones. Kendall Charcoal has a slightly green undertone, although you may also notice a gray undertone. These undertones are not readily visible except in certain lighting.

Kendall Charcoal looks quite solid and opaque in this photo, without any visible undertone.

And here is the same color, looking like a natural part of the greenery around it because of the green undertone.

Despite the bright light in this loft library, Kendall Charcoal doesn’t quite show green but looks like a true gray.

Does Lighting Affect Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal?

This paint color can take on a light or dark look, depending on the lighting conditions. You are also likely to see its undertone with various lighting conditions.

In a south-facing room or under warm lighting, Kendall Charcoal can look slightly lighter than usual, although it never becomes light enough to look greige.

But in low, cold, or north-facing light, the paint color may lean into its true gray form, looking somber and brooding, sometimes reading almost black.

You must bear in mind that the number of coats, texture, and finish of the paint are crucial to the final result. The more coats of paint you use, the darker the color is likely to appear.

So, along with the lighting, surrounding elements, and other factors mentioned above, Kendall Charcoal can look darker or lighter.

How Does Kendall Charcoal Feel in a Room?

The paint color feels welcoming, cozy, and sophisticated, and looks elegant. Now, you may say this about many other colors, but some are simply better than others. It usually feels like you are bringing a part of the beautiful nature into your home without overdoing it.

And Kendall Charcoal grounds colors, especially if you feel they are too vibrant. It’s a color you want to come home to if you don’t use too much of it to make the room feel too small or clustered.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal: Warm or Cool?

Kendall Charcoal is slightly warm because of the green in it. The green undertone is not the crisp emerald type but the warm olive green that leans slightly yellow. This lends a slight warmth to the color.

However, in low or cool light, Kendall Charcoal can appear somewhat cool, revealing more of its gray base than usual. In simple terms, Kendall Charcoal can lean warm or cool, making it pretty neutral in many cases.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Color Strip: Light to Dark Exploration

If you find that Kendall Charcoal is darker than you would like or you prefer to have options, I’ve got you covered. The following are alternatives of Kendall Charcoal, from lighter to darker options, for easy reference.

• Benjamin Moore Secret AF-710
• Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC-168
• Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray HC-167
• Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC-166
• Benjamin Moore Ashwood Moss 1484

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Complementary Color

Every color on the color wheel is carefully arranged based on its relationship with other colors. Those opposite each other are complementary colors. They may not look like they have any relationship with each other, but they typically bring out the vibrant hues one from the other.

Kendall Charcoal is a gray paint color, and grays are neutrals that technically don’t appear on the color wheel. However, it’s not your usual gray because it has a green undertone. Its complementary color is a dark shade of blue-purple.

Benjamin Moore’s Stormy Sky 1616 is pretty close to this shade, so you can try it with Kendall Charcoal. You can also try Sherwin Williams’ Cloak Gray SW 6278 if you want a different brand.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Coordinating Colors

These colors have a harmony that is not readily visible to the untrained eye. This is because of the similarities they have; when used in any decor, they usually flow seamlessly and beautifully. Simply White, Hawthorne Yellow, and Harbor Haze are Kendall Charcola’s coordinating colors.

• Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117: A bright white with a hint of yellow that makes it warm and able to pair well with the versatile Kendall Charcoal.
• Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow HC-4: A smooth and creamy yellow paint color with enough brightness to lighten any room.
• Benjamin Moore Harbor Haze 2136-60: A light blue paint color with a touch of gray and green that fully complements Kendall Charcoal.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Color Palettes

The following are some color palettes to try if you want to create versatility beyond the ordinary.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Snow White OC-66: Blue undertones transform this bright and cool into an almost crisp hue but sharply contrast with Kendall Charcoal.
• Dijon 193: Brown and amber undertones make this yellow look grounded and muted but still brighten the much darker Kendall Charcoal.
• Colorado Gray 2136-50: A medium blue-green with a hint of gray that keeps it slightly muted and perfect for Kendall Charcoal.

Monochromatic Color Palette

• Cement Gray 2112-60: A relatively bright and cool-toned gray paint color that fits any decor and blends with darker grays like Kendall Charcoal.
• Ashwood Moss 1484: A darker shade of Kendal Charcoal that looks mysterious yet sophisticated in a room.
• Cinder AF-705: A slightly moody gray paint color with enough versatility to anchor other colors in any decor.

Coordinating Color Palette

• Hawthorne Yellow HC-4: A smooth and creamy yellow paint color with enough brightness to lighten any room.
• Simply White OC-117: A bright white with a hint of yellow that makes it warm and able to pair well with the versatile Kendall Charcoal.
• Harbor Haze 2136-60: A light blue paint color with a touch of gray and green that fully complements Kendall Charcoal.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal vs Similar Colors

Let’s compare Kendall Charcoal to other colors that have similarities but are not the same.

BM Wrought Iron vs BM Kendall Charcoal

Wrought Iron and Kendall Charcoal are from the same color collection, but Wrought Iron is darker with a lower LRV. Also, Kendall Charcoal is a softer and truer gray than Wrought Iron.

BM Burnt Ember vs BM Kendall Charcoal

Both paint colors have almost the same LRV, with Burnt Ember coming out with a slightly higher value. Apart from this difference, both colors look almost the same.

BM Chelsea Gray vs BM Kendall Charcoal

Chelsea Gray is somewhat lighter than Kendall Charcoal, but both colors have the same warm green undertones. However, Chelsea Gray can show a bit of violet, while Kendall Charcoal sticks to green.

BM City Shadow vs BM Kendall Charcoal

City Shadow is lighter than Kendall Charcoal but the difference is minimal. Also, City Shadow has a smoky look that Kendall Charcoal lacks.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color Equivalent to Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

While there’s no exact match or equivalent to Kendall Charcoal from Benjamin Moore, you can easily compare it to Storm Warning SW 9555. Both colors have almost the same red, green, and blue (RGB) values, which make them pretty similar. Also, Grizzle Gray SW 7068 comes close if you want other options.

Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal?

The best part of this paint color is that you can use it anywhere. But because it’s very dark, consider using it only minimally so it doesn’t overwhelm the room, especially if it’s small.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal in a Bedroom

The room is styled with light colors to keep Kendall Charcoal from feeling too much for the space.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal in a Powder Room

The wallpaper, blue vanity, and white fixtures brighten the room. I love how the colors are combined with Kendall Charcoal for a striking effect.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on Exterior Trim

The window frames are painted in Benjamin Moore Black, and the sills are done in Kendall Charcoal.

Best Trim Color for Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

Bright whites such as BM White Dove or Simply White work well on the trim, but you can also try light grays like BM Smoke Embers for something different.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on a Door

The door is a sharp contrast to the rest of the colors in this room, yet it doesn’t look out of place.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on a Deck

If you’re not keen on using wood stain on your deck floor, try this paint color. It’s neutral enough for the flooring and can accommodate other colors. The rest of this patio is BM Wrought Iron.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on Kitchen Cabinets

The paint color looks lighter than usual, but this may have something to do with the number of coats and specific finish and type. It may have also been lightened.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on Exterior Walls

Kendall Charcoal looks pretty good on these walls, especially with the white trim color.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on an Entryway

I love how much of a surprise this entryway will be for visitors, and pleasantly so.

Best Ceiling Color for Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Walls

I recommend white like BM Chantilly Lace because of its brightness and neutrality.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal in a Laundry Room

While laundry rooms may not typically have a lot of natural lighting, Kendall Charcoal may still work if you use a lot of bright white artificial lighting.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal in a Dining Room

As always, use it on a feature wall to get the best out of Kendall Charcoal.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal in a Living Room

Well, you can call this an entertainment room because of the setup, but it’s still cozy enough to be a living room or family room.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal in a Bathroom

We can all relate to this decor because of its simplicity and coziness. And Kendall Charcoal doesn’t look half bad here.

Conclusion

Gray will always have a place in our decor, so we might as well do it elegantly, right? Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal is a popular dark gray paint color that performs well in any space. This is one of the reasons designers and homeowners love it.

It is pretty dark with an LRV of 14.61 and a green undertone that reveals itself without much nudging. However, it doesn’t look too green but appears gray on many occasions. Try it with light colors and vibrant hues for a striking effect.

Get creative with Kendall Charcoal and share your results with me. Remember to test it first before making a final decision because paint colors look different in real life than they do in photos.