Read about Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere, and see 11 real homes that use it!
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere (2138-60) is a stunning light blue-green with gray undertones. It’s a chameleon shade that reads differently throughout the day to provide endless sophistication and keep you coming back for more.
I often highlight neutral shades because they’re the favorite paint colors of most homeowners. However, I can’t help but want to play with color once in a while.
After all, color is the spice of life – or maybe the phrase is actually “variety is the spice of life.” That works, too, when talking about Gray Cashmere, from the time-honored tradition of Benjamin Moore!
Considering updating your home with a fresh coat of paint? I have an entire paint color review series to help you choose your ideal color. Each post in the series highlights a shade and covers all the details (including pros and cons) to help you make an informed choice. It’s the perfect introduction to new shades!
Today, I’m leaning into blue-green grays and showing you just what an extraordinary color the Benjamin Moore paint called Gray Cashmere is!
What color is Gray Cashmere?
Gray Cashmere (2138-60) is a light, muted blue-green that makes a room feel airy, soft, and lovely as it exudes a calming and comfortable ambiance.
It may have the word “gray” in the name, but this hue is anything but gray. As a blend of blue, green, and gray, this shade is quite the chameleon and an all-around gorgeous color anywhere you use it.
I wouldn’t call it a classic color because it’s more of an in-between color. At times, it will appear blue. At others, it will look green. And in just the right lighting, say hello to gray.
No doubt about it, this color will keep you guessing. So if you get bored easily and always crave a fresh look, Gray Cashmere could be the ideal addition to your perfect color palette!
Wait! Even if you have decided at first glance that this is the ultimate paint shade for your home, there are a few things to know before you add this hue to your cart or line up your contractor (or husband, hah!) to paint.
FAQs about Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere
What other colors are similar to Gray Cashmere?
Matching paint colors across brands never gives you the shade you expect. If you want a similar color in a different paint brand, Sherwin Williams’s Sea Salt or Pine Frost are close matches, and Behr’s Salt Glaze also looks similar.
Is Benjamin Moore’s Gray Cashmere warm or cool?
Due to the blue undertones in Gray Cashmere, it leans cool. It won’t look icy, so it’s the perfect shade to balance things out in a warm climate.
Where should I use Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere?
Cover your entire home top to bottom in Gray Cashmere. Just kidding – it’s not the best choice for all-over color (not neutral enough), but it CAN work in nearly any area, including:
Accents such as cabinets or built-ins
Entryway
Laundry room
Mudroom
Playroom
Living room
Kitchen
Dining room
Home Office
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Exterior
Gray Cashmere fits well in traditional, transitional, coastal, modern farmhouse, and shabby chic homes.
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere Undertones
In many lighting situations, you’ll notice Gray Cashmere looks like any ordinary light gray, but trust me. This color puts ordinary grays to shame.
Its strong blue and green undertones give it a shifty quality which means you’ll DEFINITELY want to thoroughly vet this color before you cover a total wall area with it and cringe when it flashes green undertones instead of the blue ones you expected (oops!).
Don’t like surprise undertones on your walls? Use peel-and-stick paint samples to check out any and all potential undertone surprises a color has before you purchase it! These paint swatches are a no-fail way to make sure you select interior paint in the perfect shade for your lighting and decor.
If undertones make your head hurt, you’re not alone! Grab your free copy of 5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
How Different Types of Lighting Affect Sherwin Williams’s Gray Cashmere
As the saying goes, the only constant in life is change, and that applies to paint appearance too! As the sun moves, colors change. EVERY paint color will display some amount of variation throughout the day.
Here’s how the natural lighting at each compass direction will impact Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere’s appearance:
- North-facing light – this gray-tinted cool saturation will cause Gray Cashmere to appear cool, blue, and its darkest.
- South-facing light – this consistent warm light will make Gray Cashmere appear light, soft, green, and even slightly warm.
- West-facing light – this shifty exposure is passive in the morning and ultra-warm in the late afternoon. Gray Cashmere will appear cool and blue in the morning but green and slightly warm later.
- East-facing light – with this light exposure, expect the opposite scenario from what happens in west-facing rooms. Also, it will likely look grayer in the evening under artificial light.
When to Avoid SW Gray Cashmere
As a rule of thumb, avoid trying to pair Gray Cashmere with warm colors. The cool undertones in this shade will keep it from playing nicely with warm tones. For example, earthy colors (like many granites) are a no-go.
Along the same lines, steer clear of pairing this shade with warm whites and beiges. Shades such as Linen White or Dove Wing are too creamy (yellow-saturated colors) to look good with Gray Cashmere.
If you want a uniform color that will look (mostly) similar anywhere you use it, this shade is NOT the one you want because it’s too nuanced and shifts a lot.
Although it can look good on shade-covered exteriors, in general, it’s not my favorite color for home exteriors because it can look washed out and minty in bright natural light.
Great Coordinating Colors for Gray Cashmere
Gray Cashmere looks incredible when you find the right striking combinations, but it’s a bit tricky. I recommend sticking to crisp whites, cool-leaning greiges, light taupes, sage green tones, and bold hues such as dark gray and dark blue.
And go for chrome, brushed nickel, or matte black hardware!
If you need a few proven shades that pair well with Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere, try:
- Rainforest Dew
- Storm Cloud Gray
- Abalone
- Mallard Green
- Aegean Teal
- Flint
- Chantilly Lace
- Victorian Mauve
- Carolina Gull
- Edgecomb Gray
- Pashmina
- Rockport Gray
- Icicle
- Misted Green
- Soot
- Chestertown Bluff
- Atrium White
- Decorator’s White
For trim details and ceiling paint colors, I recommend true whites (instead of off-white) that are free of undertones, such as Chantilly Lace, White Dove, Simply White, or Oxford White.
A Word About Sheens and Finishes
Whether you’re looking for a shade to be the shining star of your living room or you’re refreshing low traffic bedrooms, different paint finishes can make a huge impact on the final appearance.
Here’s a quick rundown of the various paint sheens available to help you achieve the perfect interior paint job for your home.
- High gloss – this paint offers the most easy-to-clean surface, but it comes with a shine level that most people don’t desire, plus it shows imperfections more prominently.
- Semi-gloss – this sheen is great for small spaces, rooms with low light levels, and high-humidity environments (like bathrooms).
- Satin – the most popular finish for indoor paint, satin works well on a wide variety of surfaces, isn’t too shiny, and offers the ability to wash away splatters or fingerprints with soap and water.
- Eggshell – the slight sheen of eggshell is a little more durable than flat paint and can withstand VERY gentle scrubbing.
- Matte (or flat) – most people love the look of a matte finish, but it’s not a great fit for every surface. Flat paint delivers a shine-free appearance and is ideal for low-traffic areas because it’s not very washable.
In other words, finding the perfect sheen for your precise paint needs will be the cherry on top of your paint decor sundae. To learn all the ins-and-outs of paint sheen, check out this article.
LRV of Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere (2138-60)
LRV (or Light Reflectance Value) is a scale that measures the reflection of light a color has, with 0 being totally black and 100 being totally white.
The LRV of Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere = 64.53
SW Gray Cashmere falls squarely in the light (but not white) range. It has more depth than most off-whites but WILL wash out in bright lighting.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Gray Cashmere Compared to Other Colors
How does Gray Cashmere stand out in the sea of blue-greens? Let’s check it out side by side with similar shades!
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere vs. Wickham Gray
First up: Ben Moore’s popular Wickham Gray (HC-171). If you love the idea of a hint of color but find that Gray Cashmere is just a bit too much, Wickham Gray will hit the sweet spot. With an LRV of almost 68, it still has the blue-green blend, but it’s more muted (and more likely to wash out in bright light).
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere vs. Sea Salt
At LRV of 64, Sea Salt (SW 6204) from Sherwin Williams (SW 7029) is nearly identical in depth to Gray Cashmere.
At first glance, these airy pastels may appear identical and deliver beautiful results, but don’t let first appearances fool you. Their main difference is that Gray Cashmere appears more muted (but only a little bit).
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere vs. Smoky Green
Benjamin Moore Smoky Green (CC-700) is a little darker, boasting an LRV of almost 61. Both of these calming colors have deep green undertones, but Smoky Green is a green-gray that feels richer (and less flexible).
More Colors to Consider
This color has a lot going for it – especially if you get bored quickly. If you aren’t quite convinced that it’s right for your home, check out these alternatives!
- Stonington Gray (Benjamin Moore) – medium, cool, silvery gray.
- Gray Owl (Benjamin Moore) – a light, cool gray with blue-green undertones.
- Worldly Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a shape-shifty greige with green undertones.
- Lazy Gray (Sherwin Williams) – medium-depth gray with blue undertones.
- Rainwashed (Sherwin Williams) – a light, muted blue-green that leans slightly green.
- Palladian Blue (Benjamin Moore) – a muted blue-green that leans blue.
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
11 Real Life Homes Using Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere
Now, here’s my favorite part! I’m excited to show you how this color REALLY acts in real-life homes! Prepare to be amazed by these 11 examples because they show a range of lighting and appearances.
Bedrooms Using Gray Cashmere Paint
1. Soft and Inviting
This example from Simplicity in the South shows exactly what I would imagine for this color based solely on the name. It almost has a velvety look that envelops you in comfort!
2. Hint of Green
This bedroom from Daleet Spector Design via Houzz makes great use of this shade’s undertones by adding teal (dark blue-green) accents!
The final result: a pale and welcoming shade on the walls with eye-catching deep colors that draw your attention.
3. Gorgeous Gray-Green
There are times when you REALLY notice the green or blue undertones and barely see the gray in this shade. However, this hallway from Project Our House looks more like a muted light green. Lovely!
Living Spaces
4. Pale and Elegant
Do you want a touch of timeless sophistication to perfectly complement high-end finishes? Follow @madeline_fort41design‘s example and turn to this shade for that perfect hint of color and elegance.
5. Cool and Blue
Low levels of cool-tinted light draw out the blue side of our color. In this example from House Pour, notice how this shade keeps this dark space feeling airy where darker, richer hues would be too much.
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere Kitchen & Dining
6. Light and Neutral
This room for Polished Habitat has the perfect light exposure to draw forward this shade’s gray side and let its blue and green undertones take a backseat.
7. Pastel but Neutral
This kitchen from @awefullsarah brilliantly uses today’s highlighted hue for a touch of cool color to balance out the warm granite counters. But since these colors are separated by the (not too) warm cabinets, it works.
I love this shade for high-traffic areas (like kitchens) because of its excellent hiding abilities. Its chameleon nature makes it a great product to naturally provide incredible hide for fingerprints (no more obsessively washing walls!).
8. Hint of Blue
Check out this room from @summersorbet75! The artificial lighting and deep blue accents pull out the blue undertones in this shade. It’s subtle and gorgeous!
Bathrooms Painted BM Gray Cashmere
9. Spa-like Retreat
I personally want a bathroom with great depth of color that feels like a retreat from the rest of the world. Odile Gelinard interiors via Houzz really delivered on that feeling by using Gray Cashmere to create a softly polished glow (with an almost iridescent quality)!
Gray Cashmere Spotted in Other Homes
10. Paired with Warm Wood Tones
Observe the power of the surrounding decor. The warm wood tones in this entry from Old House New Home pull forth the green undertones and give the wall color a hint of warmth.
11. An Office Designed for Focus
I’m loving this home office from Harbour Breeze Home!
This hue creates a tranquil environment so you can handle the toughest of workdays in a zen-like way.
Do you love Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere’s chameleon qualities as much as I do? Don’t forget to grab some peel and stick paint samples to make sure that this hue will work with your home and decor.
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, beige walls who’s the boss at home? Grab my free guide to help you sidestep the mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
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