Read all about Benjamin Moore Sea Salt, plus see 15 real homes that use it!
Benjamin Moore Sea Salt (CSP-95) is a light gray with a bit of brown mixed in, resulting in a slightly cool greige or khaki color. Ever the wordsmith, Ben Moore uses this description: “After a relaxing spa massage with the coarse crystals, her skin—and senses—felt completely renewed.” Can you say ahhhh?
Not to be confused with the popular Sherwin Williams Sea Salt paint, Benjamin Moore’s Sea Salt paint color is a warm gray or greige without complicated undertones. The color is so soft and pale that in South-facing rooms and rooms with a lot of natural light, it looks almost off-white with detectable hints of gray and brown to keep it feeling rich.
Sea Salt paint (Benjamin Moore) is neutral enough to complement any decor style, and holds up well to changing tastes. That being said, it looks especially fantastic with blue decor accents, and you don’t have to take my word for it – there are some lovely real-life examples below!
If you’re looking for a serene paint shade to freshen up a room or pair with a neutral color palette, read on to determine if Benjamin Moore Sea Salt is the right greige for your home!
Here’s what we’ll be covering in this article:
What color is Benjamin Moore Sea Salt paint?
Sea Salt Paint (Benjamin Moore) can either be considered a light, warm gray, or a cooler pale greige. It really does lack any obvious undertones other than a bit of brown, which is what contributes to its greige or khaki characteristics. In some lighting, there is the slightest hint of green, which can actually look quite beautiful (I’ll show you some examples in just a minute!).
If you are a visually poetic kind of person, Sea Salt paint color kind of looks like cool, damp sand on a cloudy day at the beach.
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Is Benjamin Moore Sea Salt a warm or cool color?
The beauty of this greige is that it’s not at all too warm. It lacks any yellow undertones, so though it leans to the warmer side of gray, it’s also on the cool side of greige. This sounds much more complicated than it actually is!
As a standalone color, the Benjamin Moore Sea Salt paint color sits right in the middle of warm and cool, making it an incredibly balanced shade.
LRV of Sea Salt paint (CSP-95):
Now we’re going to discuss the “numerical” details of Benjamin Moore Sea Salt paint, or the LRV:
Sea Salt LRV = 62.93
LRV = Light Reflectance Value: Rated 0-100 with 0 being pure black, and 100 being pure white. Lighter paint shades REFLECT more light from them and therefore have a HIGHER LRV, and vice versa for darker shades). Below, see Sea Salt (62.93) side by side with pure white (100):
As you can see, the paint looks much darker when compared to bright white.
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Sea Salt Paint (Benjamin Moore) Compared to Other Colors
I mentioned previously that Sea Salt is both warm and cool. How can that be? It really changes form depending on the colors you pair with it, so comparing it side by side with a few other paint shades is a must. Let’s go!
Benjamin Moore Sea Salt vs Sherwin Williams Sea Salt
Benjamin Moore Sea Salt (62.93 LRV) is a light greige, while Sherwin Williams Sea Salt (63 LRV) is a pale grayish-green with just a hint of blue. SW Sea Salt is the more popular paint color, so you’re more likely to find resources on this color. That doesn’t mean that Benjamin Moore’s Sea Salt isn’t beautiful in its own right!
In fact, I think these two colors are actually quite complementary to each other, and together, they make up a gorgeously serene, sea-inspired color palette. Even better, they’re incredibly close in terms of Light Reflectance Value, so they both possess the same level of pale softness.
Benjamin Moore Sea Salt vs Sea Glass
With an LRV of 32.89, Benjamin Moore Sea Glass is a darker, grayish blue-green, so it’s a very different color than Sea Salt. Since both Sea Salt and Sea Glass have gray undertones and muted characteristics, they are also pretty complementary to each other.
I can imagine having furniture or decor accents in a color similar to Sea Glass that would look fabulous paired with wall paint in Sea Salt.
Healing Aloe vs Sea Salt
Healing Aloe, by Benjamin Moore, is a gorgeous, whisper-soft pale green. It has some gray and blue undertones to keep it feeling muted and cool. At 69.66 LRV, it’s a bit lighter than Benjamin Moore Sea Salt (62.93 LRV). It’s very similar in composition to Sherwin Williams Sea Salt (63 LRV), but quite a bit brighter.
When holding up swatches of BM Sea Salt and Healing Aloe next to each other, Sea Salt looks grayer. This is possibly due to the fact that Healing Aloe is a green shade, and makes any green undertones in Sea Salt fade away.
Other Similar Shades to Consider:
If you still aren’t sold on BM Sea Salt, or just want a few more options – here are several other similar mid-tone colors to choose from:
Are you already feeling a little lost? Let me help you get back on track. Grab a free copy of my guide to help you avoid the same paint color picking mistakes most people always make!
15 Real Life Homes Using Benjamin Moore Sea Salt
Alright, time to dig into the good part: all that eye candy! But first, a warning. Do NOT fall in love with one of these rooms, run out and buy 4 cans and start painting your space! Remember the cardinal rule of painting: sample before you swipe that paintbrush!!!
And when it comes to sampling, I highly recommend opting for these re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick samples ⤵
Sea Salt Living Rooms
Sheen note: Picking the right color is only winning the battle, not the war. Remember to pick the right paint finish, or sheen, also! Read up on what you need to know about picking the perfect paint sheen.
1. Looks Beautiful with Blue
Sea Salt paint looks cool enough in this room to look like a soft gray, making it the perfect neutral to pair with rich blue and indigo decor.
2. Bright Living Room with BM Sea Salt
We tend to feature wall colors that allow a white brick fireplace stand out, but here the contrast is much more subtle.
On the walls of this family room by Bensonwood Co., BM Sea Salt has a cooling and calming effect, adding just enough depth and contrast with the trim details to make the space appear larger. Together with the white fireplace, it creates a soft backdrop for the blue and neutral decor palette.
3. Black & (Not Quite) Off-White Living Room
For a clean, sophisticated, classic-meets-modern look, Benjamin Moore Sea Salt is a great pick to pair with white trim and black doors and window frames, as seen here in this space by The Design Co.
Note that the wall color isn’t a dramatic pop against the base moldings and crown molding, but it’s more of a gentle, visible transition that’s not too dramatic or jarring.
4. Beautiful Backdrop
Sea Salt Paint (Benjamin Moore) works wonderfully as a neutral backdrop for a cheery and brightly colored decor style like this one shared at Houzz. I love the way the richer hues of the oranges and reds pop in this eclectic, bohemian-inspired space.
Benjamin Moore Sea Salt Kitchens
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).
5. Sea Salt Kitchen Cabinets
Sea Salt paint also works great as a neutral kitchen cabinet color. It’s a great match with the cool, muted blue subway tile backsplash.
Sea Salt Bathrooms
Don’t forget the finish! For high-humidity environments and high traffic areas like bathrooms, the perfect sheen is either eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this article about paint sheen.
6. Boy Bathroom in Sea Salt
What a creamy, gorgeous neutral wall color for this boy’s bathroom from House of Turquoise! It’s the perfect match for the bold vanity, painted in Sherwin Williams Refuge.
7. Farmhouse Bathroom Walls
Swathed in warm, natural light, Sea Salt paint has a definite green cast in this rustic farmhouse-inspired bathroom. It looks great when paired with stained wood shelving and industrial piping.
Dining Rooms Painted Sea Salt
8. Can Look Cool
BM Sea Salt was a great color choice for this cool-toned dining room with a neutral color palette. It plays well with the cool neutrals but has just enough warmth to keep things from feeling too chilly.
9. Dining Space with Sea Salt
What do you do when you have a lot of busy prints in your curtains and furniture? You paint the walls a soft, neutral color, of course! BM Sea Salt paint color more than fits the bill in this cheery dining room shared by Ballard Designs.
Sea Salt Bedrooms
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.
10. Nursery in Sea Salt
Keeping nurseries gender-neutral is never a bad idea. Bonus: it prolongs the life of the wall paint even as the kids grow older and change their style! I love how soft and calming this sweet nursery shared by Nursery DIY feels, with walls painted in Sea Salt paint.
11. Benjamin Moore Sea Salt Kid’s Room
Here again, as seen in this space from The Zhush, Sea Salt paint is a versatile neutral for a kid’s room. As kids grow and styles change, there will be no problem finding furniture that will look great with this easy to live with wall color. It works with virtually any decor style and color palette.
Other CSP-95 Sea Salt Sightings
12. Lovely Laundry Room
Benjamin Moore Sea Salt paint creates the perfect neutral backdrop for this earth-toned laundry room. It’s soft, ambiguously gray and a warm, cozy alternative to plain white.
13. Entryway with Sea Salt
Here’s a beautiful example of Benjamin Moore Sea Salt in a big, open space filled with bright, natural light (shared at Home Bunch). As mentioned earlier, the paint shade takes on a pale, almost off-white look, but with enough rich beige and brown undertones to keep it feeling warm and creamy.
14. Sea Salt Mudroom
Love this elegant mudroom seen at Home Bunch! This clean and classic space features Sea Salt paint on the walls and Wedgewood Gray on the cabinets (both paint colors by Benjamin Moore). The two earthy gray colors make a lovely combination.
15. Sea Salt’s Green Undertones
Here’s another example (via The Painters Place) of Sea Salt revealing just a hint of green in its undertones. This actually makes it a sublime backdrop for the dark green furniture and stunning gold circular mirrors.
Final Thoughts
What do you think of this Benjamin Moore paint? It makes me want to walk barefoot on the beach. I hope the beautiful results seen in these real-life examples of Sea Salt has inspired you to dream about a fresh look in your own home!
And if this is a color you’re seriously considering, remember paint-sampling is better than ending up paint-sorry! I highly recommend these peel and stick samples because they are inexpensive, re-usable and re-positionable…
Pin this post for later! And if you decide to use this color, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this color, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! And before you’re on your way, make sure you grab your free copy of the 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint, so you can avoid the heartache (and hole in your wallet) when your paint choices don’t quite work out! Click here, and I’ll send your free copy right now!
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