Read all about Benjamin Moore Seapearl, plus see real homes that use it!
Are you looking to dramatically change your space without dramatically busting your budget wide open? Updating the paint in your home is an extremely affordable way to do just that!
I’ve been covering different shades of paint in this paint color series for quite a while, which means that I’ve covered an extensive range of colors at this point. Today, I’m showing off one of my favorite off-whites that you won’t want to miss: Benjamin Moore Seapearl (OC-19).
This light off-white plays well with many other colors and looks incredible anywhere you wish to use it. So if you’re searching for a creamy off-white that’s inviting, warm, and timeless, check out BM Seapearl because it won’t disappoint!
FAQs about Seapearl
BM Seapearl is a warm off-white with slightly gray undertones that make this color more versatile than many whites.
Is Benjamin Moore Seapearl cool or warm?
Seapearl is a warm-toned off-white that has slight greige undertones. It’s a beautiful shade that will look creamy (but not TOO creamy), soft, and inviting.
Where should I use BM Seapearl?
This shade can be the highlight of any area in your home! Try Seapearl in your:
• Kitchens
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Living rooms
• Stairways
• Hallways
• Laundry rooms
• Exteriors
This creamy white shade is perfect for modern, traditional, modern farmhouse, and contemporary-style homes.
Benjamin Moore Seapearl Undertones
Undertones are a fact of life when it comes to paint colors. They’re a result of the process of blending differing amounts of other colors to create a new color, so every single paint color has them.
While many people may prefer to ignore them and hope for the best, I take a different approach. I believe that knowing a paint’s undertones makes the process of picking a new color for your home more efficient.
Lighting and decor play essential roles in how paint reads in a home, which is why I highly recommend using paint samples. Yes, it’s an extra step as you choose paint colors, but it can potentially save you tons of time and money!
As far as sampling goes, I highly recommend these mess-free, re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples ⤵
Let’s evaluate BM Seapearl’s undertones. This versatile hue lives in the off-white family, but it has a slight gray appearance.
All off-whites have varying amounts of yellow undertones (to give them their creamy warmth), and Seapearl is no exception. The combination of gray and yellow undertones can make Seapearl read as a light greige from time to time.
NOTE: Since no paint colors will look the same at varying times of the day or in two different places, use paint swatches (this is my favorite kind to use) to help you know exactly how your lighting and surrounding decor will affect the way your favourite colors appear.
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 BM Seapearl
Shades with strong undertones can change a little dramatically in different lighting situations. Here’s a basic idea of how you can expect Seapearl to read.
- North-facing light – northern light is blue-tinted and cool, which will make Seapearl read more gray and even a little crisp.
- South-facing light – warm southern lighting will draw out the warmth in this shade to make it read light beige.
- East-facing light – eastern light is a warm yellow light in the morning and cool light in the afternoon. That lighting combination will cause Seapearl to read more beige and warm in the morning, then shift to a cooler light gray later in the day.
- West-facing light – western light is the opposite of east-facing light because it’s cool and shadowy in the morning, then ultra-warm in the evening. Seapearl will read cool and gray in the early part of the day until the rich, red-tinged western light draws out its warm beige tendencies later in the day.
Great Coordinating Colors for Seapearl
This color is neutral and pairs well with many darker shades (and a few select whites). If you’re searching for some specific colors to pair with Benjamin Moore Seapearl, try starting with:
- Simply White
- Maritime White
- Pashmina
- Edgecomb Gray
- Hale Navy
- Manchester Tan
- Amaryllis
- Alexandria Beige
- Kendall Charcoal
- Golden Straw
- Dusty Mauve
- Baja Dunes
- Evening Dove
LRV of Benjamin Moore Seapearl (OC-19)
Looking at paint involves many subjective interpretations based on how shades change due to nearby influences. Let’s briefly cover an objective method for evaluating paint colors.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a number on a scale between 0 and 100 that each color has assigned to it based on how much light it REFLECTS. A lower number means the color reflects less light, while a higher number means it reflects more light.
The LRV of BM Seapearl = 77.95
Seapearl sits in the “light” range, although it’s right at the border of being considered a white or an off-white. Because it’s just under 80, I’m considering it to be a light off-white that will often read white but can look more greige in low light.
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!⤵️
Seapearl Compared to Other Colors
Comparing similar shades against each other is a reliable way to determine how undertones affect them. Here’s how Benjamin Moore Seapearl looks when we compare it to three different (and similar) popular shades.
Benjamin Moore Seapearl vs. Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Alabaster has a much higher LRV of 82, which makes it look a tad pale in comparison to Seapearl. If you’re searching for a warm counterpart to Seapearl, Alabaster might be a good option because it’s a warm white that has slight hints of greige.
Benjamin Moore Seapearl vs. Pale Oak
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak has an LRV of 69.89, making it quite a bit darker than Seapearl. In addition, it’s a greige that boasts fairly overt pink-purple undertones and can turn people away from it, which is a shame because it’s a beautiful shade.
Benjamin Moore Seapearl vs. White Dove
With an LRV of 85.38, White Dove is noticeably lighter than Seapearl is. White Dove is a warm white that tends to read more white than Seapearl, thanks to its higher LRV value. But it can surprise you and lean a little greige in the right circumstances.
More Colors to Consider
I totally understand how challenging it can be to choose new paint colors! If you aren’t ready to jump on the Seapearl bandwagon yet, check out these other similar shades. I know at least one of them will win you over.
- Anew Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a light to medium warm greige.
- Light French Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a light, neutral gray.
- Stonington Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a rich, mid-toned, and balanced gray.
- Chantilly Lace (Benjamin Moore) – a bright white having cool blue-gray undertones.
- Swiss Coffee (Benjamin Moore) – an off-white with rich, creamy undertones.
- Light Pewter (Benjamin Moore) – a popular light gray with greige undertones.
- Dove Wing (Benjamin Moore) – a light off-white paint with 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!⤵️
Real Life Homes Using Benjamin Moore Seapearl
Ok, the information overload period is over! Let’s get to the fun part and see how Benjamin Moore Seapearl stuns in different homes. Here are real houses that use Benjamin Moore Seapearl paint to give their homes a fresh look.
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider sheen! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
Benjamin Moore’s Seapearl Living Rooms
1. Warm and Inviting
The low levels of natural light combined with soft yellow-tinged light and wood tones in this living room from Beach Home Boys draws out the warm creaminess of Seapearl.
While the gray undertones make it look more greige than yellow, the warmth clearly comes through!
2. Great Contrast to Bright White
If you want a color in the white or off-white family that will read light and contrast with white, all while ALSO adding timeless and elegant ambiance, Seapearl may be a perfect choice.
This living room from Brick City Love shows exactly what I mean.
3. A Color with an Antique Feel
The versatility of this color takes my breath away! It can effortlessly switch from timeless elegance to chic and cozy as it does in this living room from Gallery 4 Home.
Bedrooms Featuring Seapearl Paint
Sheen note: For low-traffic areas like bedrooms, often a flat paint is chosen. But picking the perfect sheen depends on multiple factors like the condition of the wall, and whether or not you prefer a bit of glow in your paint.
4. Complements Modern Decor
BM Seapearl may lean warm, but cool light and decor will cause it to appear balanced as it does in this bedroom from Ella Scott Design. Here, Seapearl reads as white with the teensiest hint of gray.
5. Farmhouse Vibes on Frame Moulding
Seapearl + bright natural light = beautiful soft white color. This bedroom from Rambling Renovators shows the soft side of this shade. Doesn’t it make you want to use it somewhere in your house if not your entire home?
BM Seapearl Kitchen and Dining Spaces
Remember to choose the proper paint finish! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing the right sheen here. For kitchens, eggshell is a popular finish.
6. Warm Off White Kitchen Paint
I don’t know about you, but I think kitchens should be beautiful AND inviting. Cottage Supply Company nails it with the choice of using Seapearl!
7. Goes Well with Any Decor Style
This dining room from Twin Construction (Interior design: @lauriefulkerson; plan drawings: @crystalwtucker, photo credit: @jallsopp) shows off the paint color’s versatile nature.
It’s neutral enough that it works for any home and decor style! Notice how the gold fixtures play off the paint to make it read a little yellow near the ceiling.
8. Classy and Casual
Soft. Creamy. Elegant. Timeless. These are all the qualities you want in a paint that makes your house feel like a home. And it’s why I love this dining room from @emilyhammellcapestro!
Bathrooms Painted Seapearl by Benjamin Moore
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.
9. A Serene Neutral
White paint colors have their own undertones, but they also tend to reflect other colors around them.
For example, the walls in this bathroom from Duffy Design Group are reflecting the green from outside the window. Although they look slightly green, the effect creates a spa-like retreat.
10. Creamy Contrast to Gray Paint
Thanks to its warm tendencies and gray undertones, Seapearl often pairs well with a variety of gray paints.
This bathroom from Simply Organized manages to stay soft and bright in spite of the low levels of cool natural light.
Ben Moore’s Seapearl OC-19 in Other Spaces
11. Beautiful Accent on Trim and Doors
Entryways need to be inviting because they’re the first part of your home that guests will see. Jenny Komenda created a beautiful and comfortable entry that makes guests feel immediately right at home.
12. Pairs Well with Wood Tones
Let the paint do the hard work in your decor! The warmth of Seapearl makes it play nice with a variety of wood tones. This home office from Veranda Estate Homes is cozy and lovely while remaining simple and uncluttered.
13. Stark Difference in Varying Light
Simply Organized provides an optimum example of how paint can greatly vary its appearance based on nearby influences.
To the left side of the picture, Seapearl looks like a creamy off-white, but the hallway lighting makes it look very yellow.
14. Reads as Gray in this Home Office
Artificial light can be harsher than natural lighting. Even in the bright artificial light in this office from @the.tapper.house, Seapearl reads as a light off-white, but you can see the softness that the gray undertones add. A brighter white would have been blinding in this room.
15. Happy Hallway
Hendricks Churchill uses Seapearl in this entry/hallway for a welcoming, warm, and I’d say winning effect (photo credit: @timlenzphoto).
16. Seapearl Exterior? See for Yourself…
And how would BM Seapearl look on the exterior? Check out this beautiful example from @kari.teel.
If you want a paint that’s in the off-white color family, check out Benjamin Moore Seapearl. This stunning light shade will add a timeless and sophisticated quality to any room!
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 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.
Diane says
I am considering dove wing, seapearl and white dove for my master bedroom. Cathedral ceilings, 14.5×15.5 size, warm brown hardwood floor, warm natural oak bedroom furniture. Any suggestions on a color. Would appreciate your help. Thank you.
Diane
Sandy says
Would sea pearl work with White Dove cabinets and marble (with grey undertones) counters? I am also looking at Classic Grey. Any suggestions?
MegR says
I used seapearl in my front hall and down the hall to the bedroom. I love it. I have white dove trim. It’s a low contrast but I like it that way.
Heather Thibodeau says
So good to hear Meg! It is a really lovely shade. And White Dove is one of my all time faves! Great choice!