Read all the deets about Benjamin Moore October Mist, plus see 16 real-life homes that use it!
Benjamin Moore October Mist #1495 (also CC-550) is a calming, mid-tone gray-green paint shade that was chosen as the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year in 2022.
Beige, gray, and greige colors have been ruling the interior design world for decades, now. But there’s a wonderful shift toward color happening right now.
Now, don’t start thinking that I’m saying houses everywhere will now have color palettes filled with golds, reds, royal blues, and more. I don’t think this “color revolution” (for lack of a better term) is that drastic.
I’m just saying that instead of staying mostly monochrome with neutrals, I’m seeing a trend toward adding a little color. For example, instead of gray paint, you might now see sage (a gray-tinted green) paint.
Forget about orange being the new black. Sage is the new neutral!
Speaking of sage, I have a terrific color to share with you today: Benjamin Moore October Mist.
Will it work for your space? This post is part of my extensive paint series of posts that I’ve methodically designed to help you answer that exact question for each and every color highlighted in the series. I want to replace the stress that most people feel when picking paint colors with excitement because the process feels fun and productive.
What color is October Mist?
October Mist is a calming and earthy mid-tone sage green paint color. Although this hue is in the green family, it will act neutral.
This modern silvery green was inspired by a flower stem – the part of the plant that rises from the ground and blooms into new possibilities.
Sound like too much? Well, no one’s ever mistaken me for a poet! That’s the inspiration, according to Benjamin Moore itself.
FAQs about Benjamin Moore October Mist
What other colors are similar to October Mist?
Due to subtle nuances in undertones, temperature, and depth, finding an exact match between brands can be challenging (if not impossible).
However, if you want a Sherwin Williams hue that’s similar, I would suggest taking a look at Sherwin Williams Grassland (#6163).
Is Benjamin Moore’s October Mist a cool or warm color?
Its warm yellow undertones make October Mist a warm-leaning sage green. It’s not overly yellow (so that it looks olive) but instead has just a hint to create an earthy shade that’s both muted and uplifting.
Where should I use Benjamin Moore October Mist?
Use this color anywhere you want to promote a grounded and harmonious vibe because this modern shade is versatile and endlessly chic.
Consider October Mist for your:
• Laundry room
• Mudroom
• Living room
• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• Home office
• Kitchen
• Dining room
• Playroom
• Cabinets and vanities
• Accent walls
October Mist is a shade that will help create enviable modern, traditional, Scandinavian, transitional, coastal, boho, and modern farmhouse-style homes.
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!⤵️
Benjamin Moore October Mist Undertones
Sage greens tend to have green, gray, and a hint of either yellow (if it’s a warm sage) or blue (if it’s a cool sage).
October Mist has strong gray and mild yellow undertones, making it a warm-leaning sage green color.
Use these peel-and-stick paint swatches to ensure October Mist looks amazing in your space before committing to the shade and getting an unpleasant surprise.
These paint samples couldn’t be easier to remove and reposition on a different wall, so you can feel confident your chosen color will look incredible.
How Different Types of Lighting Affect Benjamin Moore’s October Mist
The sun doesn’t just rise in the east and set in the west. As it moves across the sky, there are changes in lighting temperature and exposure, which massively impact how paint appears.
NO color will look the same in different rooms and lighting. If you take nothing else from this post, use peel and stick samples to vet your colors before you buy!
Here’s how October Mist is likely to look in your home based on various types of natural lighting.
- North-facing light – cool, blue-tinted northern light will highlight the muted qualities of October Mist, making it look grayer and darker.
- South-facing light – warm yellow southern light will lighten October Mist and draw out its warm yellow undertones.
- East-facing light – rooms with this light have warm yellow exposure in the morning and cooler, shadowier exposure in the afternoon. October Mist’s appearance will shift a lot throughout the day.
- West-facing light – rooms with western lighting are cool and shadowy in the morning but have very warm exposure later in the day. October Mist will also appear differently as the light shifts but in the opposite scenario of east-facing light.
When to Avoid BM October Mist
Rooms without much light may not be the best choice for October Mist because it’s saturated enough that it can look too dark for some people.
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
Great Coordinating Colors for October Mist
This shade functions very much like a neutral color, so it plays well with a variety of other hues. Confidently use it as part of a color palette with blues, pinks, corals, other shades of green, yellows, purples, grays, greiges, and creamy whites.
If you’re searching for some specifics, try pairing Benjamin Moore October Mist with:
- White Dove
- Gray Mist
- Swiss Coffee
- Steam
- Glacier White
- Forest Floor
- Healing Aloe
- Chantilly Lace
- Hale Navy
- Cavern Clay
- Venetian Portico
- Natural Linen
- Pale Moon
- Quiet Moments
- Cloud White
- Seapearl
- Pale Oak
For trim, I recommend using Decorator’s White, Chantilly Lace, White Dove, or Super White.
LRV of Benjamin Moore October Mist (#1495)
LRV = Light Reflectance Value: Rated 0-100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being pure black. Darker colors ABSORB more light and therefore have a LOWER LRV (and vice versa for lighter shades).
The LRV of Benjamin Moore October Mist = 46.54
This value means that BM October Mist reflects a moderate amount of light. It has plenty of saturation to hold its own in bright exposure.
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!⤵️
October Mist Compared to Other Colors
To understand October Mist in a little more depth, let’s compare this shade to three other similar shades.
Benjamin Moore October Mist vs. Saybrook Sage
At first glance, these two colors may look nearly identical. But there are subtle differences to pay attention to. Saybrook Sage (HC-114) is a little greener to October Mist’s grayer undertones, making it appear more sage-like. Also, Saybrook Sage is slightly darker, with an LRV of 44.86.
October Mist vs. Evergreen Fog
Unlike the October Mist vs. Saybrook Sage comparison, these two colors are quite different from each other. Evergreen Fog (SW 9130) is at least a shade darker (LRV 30).
It also has a tad more gray, making it even more sage-y (is that a word?) when compared to October Mist’s mild yellow undertones.
Benjamin Moore October Mist vs. Clary Sage
Although these shades have some similarities with each other, the differences are enough to make a huge impact on a home.
Clary Sage is slightly darker (LRV 40.96) and less muted. Both of these colors are gray-green shades, but Clary Sage leans towards the olive end of the sage spectrum.
More Colors to Consider
Not quite ready to give October Mist the “(gray-)green light” at this point? Maybe you’ll prefer one of these other gorgeous and popular shades.
- Gray Owl (Benjamin Moore) – a light, cool gray with mild blue-green undertones.
- Anew Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a soft and unoffensive medium warm greige.
- Worldly Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a chameleon greige with green undertones.
- Coventry Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a mid-toned gray with green undertones.
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium to dark greige with green undertones.
- Shoreline (Benjamin Moore) – a light greige with noticeable gray undertones.
- Moonshine (Benjamin Moore) – a timeless gray with cool green undertones.
- Silver Satin (Benjamin Moore) – a light green-leaning greige.
- Retreat (Sherwin Williams) – a dark green with subtle gray undertones.
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!⤵️
16 Real Life Homes Using Benjamin Moore October Mist
Now that we’ve explored all the factual details of October Mist, let’s see how it plays ball in real life. Here are some examples of how October Mist looks in real spaces with various lighting situations and decor.
October Mist Bedrooms
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
In general for bedrooms, and low-traffic areas, flat paint is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (and more ease of cleaning) opt for eggshell or satin.
1. Color that Acts Neutral
White or neutral walls just would not work in a room like this one from Leff Construction & Design, which has a mix of colorful and timeless decor. It really needs a touch of color to bring everything together, and BM October Mist does it to perfection.
2. Lets Other Decor Items Stand Out
A busy wallpaper, like this one from Rine Revisions, would have paired okay with a neutral gray. But do you really want just “okay” in your bedroom? October Mist takes this bedroom from okay to “WOW!”
3. Timeless with White
Although Benjamin Moore October Mist is green, its gray undertones make it act neutral, so creating a timeless look is effortless.
Simply pair it with white or off-white like @linenandpinehome did in this bedroom.
Kitchens Featuring BM October Mist
For kitchens, eggshell or satin are popular finish choices for walls. For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
4. Modern Farmhouse Magic
Most people want to keep their kitchens feeling light and airy. But if you want to add a hint of color, try using October Mist on your cabinets – or just the lower ones like @ideaspacead did in this gorgeous modern farmhouse kitchen.
5. Greener in Warm Lighting
Warm lighting (natural or artificial) will draw the green forward and send the gray undertones back a little to give you almost a minty color, as you see in this kitchen from Casa Victoria.
It’s still gorgeous and works well to calm down the warm counters and flooring.
6. Sage in Cool Lighting
Now contrast this kitchen from Jenna Sue Design with the example above. Its cool-toned lighting and darker, cool-toned decor pull those gray undertones forward to make October Mist appear more sage.
Look at the gold hardware! It’s the perfect touch to tie the wallpaper and cabinets together.
October Mist Dining Rooms
7. Perfect for any Design Style
Bandd Design‘s use of October Mist in this dining room highlights that this shade can fit in with any style of home and decor. From modern to boho and everything in between, this hue just works.
8. A Farmhouse’s Dream
Modern farmhouse decor centers around natural elements, and paint shades don’t get more natural or organic than October Mist. I love the subtle touch of color it adds to this home from My Country Farmhouse.
October Mist by Benjamin Moore in Living Spaces
9. Perfect for a Modern Update
If you’re looking to give your space a modern yet timeless update, you can’t go wrong with October Mist! Before the redesign in this room from @vianedesigns, I wouldn’t have given the space a second thought. But now? I just want to plop on the couch and read a magazine.
Bathrooms using Ben Moore October Mist
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
10. Chic from Floor to Ceiling
One creative way to tie designs together is to paint the ceiling something other than white. BM October Mist is light enough to add a splash of color to this small bathroom from @harbinandbeau while still keeping the airy feel.
My tip: keep the splashes of color small and spaced out (like the vanity and ceiling in this image).
11. Make a Large Space Feel Inviting
House designs can be quirky. Sometimes you’re working with a bathroom that’s barely a cubicle, and at other times, you’re working with a bathroom so large it could be an executive’s office!
A Sadowski Design‘s choice of October Mist in this large bathroom ties in the wood and brown tones, making the room feel more cozy and inviting.
12. Spa-Like Retreat
In contrast to both bathroom examples above, Emily Hagerman Design chose October Mist to make this elegant bathroom feel like a spa getaway right at home.
BM October Mist Office Spaces
13. Works with Mid-Century Modern
Really, I can’t think of a decor style that October Mist doesn’t work with. Although I hadn’t envisioned professional office spaces or waiting rooms in this shade, as you can see from @remedy.residential, it totally works.
14. Subtle and Stunning
The thing about paint is how much it changes based on the lighting. In one room, October Mist can look rich and saturated. However, in this example from @boho.terra, the bright artificial lighting makes it look pale and serene.
October Mist Paint in Other Homes
15. Natural Fit with Wood Tones
Love! This may only be a laundry closet (instead of a room), but Angela Marie Made took full advantage of the limited space to create a design I would be thrilled to just “forget” to close the doors and show off.
16. Works for Exteriors too
October Mist’s versatility isn’t limited to the interior! @criteriorarchitecture shows us just how incredible it looks as an exterior paint color too.
After seeing October Mist as a wall model, do you love this shade as much as I do? It’s an organic and inviting sage that infuses a space with just the right harmonious ambiance.
Get a peel and stick paint sample to check how this hue will appear in your space!
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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