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Modern paint color is not limited to bright white. This expert-selected Benjamin Moore palette ranges from crisp off-whites and nuanced grays to deep green-gray, black, and energetic red. The ten shades below come from a MyDomaine article updated October 5, 2024; they are editorial recommendations, not a tested ranking or a current list of best sellers.
What makes these colors feel modern?
The useful idea behind this selection is variety: a room can feel current through a quiet, layered neutral or a deliberate dramatic color. The shades differ in undertone, depth, and suggested role, so choosing among them means considering the room and its finishes—not just picking a color family. The 2024 article also observed that whites and grays were gaining favor; that is an observation from that article, not a current market statistic.
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1. Caliente AF-290
A bold red with brown undertones, Caliente can cover a room or act as an accent. Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore’s director of color marketing and development, described red’s “captivating, upbeat power” as a way to bring energy into a room. Consider it when you want a confident focal point rather than another neutral.
2. White Opulence OC-69
This bright off-white has a slight pink cast. Magno called it crisp and clean, with “just the slightest touch of pink.” The article suggests it for a serene bedroom or bathroom, where that subtle warmth can distinguish it from a stark white.
#1 Best Overall
- Self-Priming formula - requires no sanding
- Mold & Mildew-Proof paint film - guaranteed for 5 years
- Resists dirt and moisture on film coating
- Finish is washable and scrubbable with soap and water
- Product contains a mildewcide to prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the paint film only
3. Black Beauty 2128-10
A warm, rich black, Black Beauty adds dramatic depth. The article points to powder rooms, entries, and dens, and suggests pairing it with whites, deep greens, pinks, or metallics. In a smaller room or on a chosen surface, it can make a stronger statement without requiring every wall in the home to be dark.
4. White Heron OC-57
White Heron is a crisp off-white with blue undertones. The article particularly recommends it for trim, casings, and millwork, and also describes it as a backdrop for art. Its cooler cast is a reason to compare it in the room against the wall color and other finishes rather than assuming all off-whites will coordinate alike.
Rank #2
- PAINT + PRIMER IN ONE: Evolve’s paint-and-primer formula helps you get great coverage from the start, sealing your surface and reducing the extra work of multiple coats.
- AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE SHEENS, COLORS & SIZES: Choose from a curated palette of designer colors in Flat, Eggshell, Satin, and Semi-Gloss sheens to match any style, room, or project. Available in 1-Gallons & 5-Gallons.
- EGGSHELL SHEEN – Soft, Velvety Glow: Offers a gentle sheen that balances elegance with durability. Ideal for moderate-traffic areas like dining rooms, hallways, and family rooms. Easy to clean without compromising the finish.
- STAIN & SCRUB RESISTANT: Built to last in real spaces, Evolve helps resist marks, scuffs, and water spotting, so your home continues to look polished and well-maintained.
- DESIGNED FOR MOISTURE-PRONE AREAS: Formulated to perform well in bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, laundry rooms, and other high-humidity spaces.
5. Excalibur Gray 2118-50
This subdued gray has a slight violet cast. Magno described it as sophisticated and subdued, and identified bedrooms and bathrooms as suitable settings. It offers a restrained alternative to a plain neutral gray when you want a subtle shift in undertone.
6. Moonshine 2140-60
Moonshine is a pale gray with a green tinge, sitting between white and gray. Magno characterized it as subtle, versatile, and compatible with many materials and textures. That makes surrounding materials—such as flooring, counters, and furnishings—especially important to check alongside a sample.
Rank #3
- Use for a variety of indoor and outdoor project surfaces including wood, metal, plaster, masonry or unglazed ceramic
- Water-based acrylic formula is low odor, resist chips and provides long-lasting protection
- Covers up to 120 sq ft and dries to touch in 30 minutes for quick project completion
- Semi-gloss finish minimizes surface imperfections, goes on smoothly and provides excellent hide
- Prior to application sand surfaces with 180/200 grit sandpaper, then wash with a degreaser, allow the surface to dry and apply paint
7. Wolf Gray 2127-40
Wolf Gray is a cool gray with strong blue undertones. The article suggests it for kitchen cabinetry, built-ins, millwork, or walls. It can be set against earthy, muted yellow-green neutrals for a quieter contrast, or stronger cobalt and indigo for a more saturated palette.
8. Silver Marlin 2139-50
A pale gray with a slight green cast, Silver Marlin is suggested for living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms. The article names antique brass and brushed nickel as possible companions, offering two different metal finishes to consider when planning the room’s overall palette.
Rank #4
- ALL-IN-1 PAINT & PRIMER: A hardy multi-purpose and multi-surface one-coat paint and primer in one for almost any indoor or outdoor surface. A wall, ceiling, floor, skirting board, cabinet, furniture and door paint for your bathroom, kitchen, home and garden.
- DURABLE & VERSATILE: A highly pigmented, thick formula available in 12 bold colors and a Matte, Satin or Gloss finish. Ideal for interior and exterior paint jobs on wood, laminate, plastic/UPVC, metal, concrete, brick, masonry, stone, glass and more.
- EFFECTIVE MONEY & TIME SAVER: A quick painting solution for DIY or professional builders and painters; our luxuriously opaque formula requires just 1 coat and is fast drying for a premium finish.
- ADVANCED ECO FORMULA: Our UK-made chalk paint is water-based, non-toxic, low odor, and has low VOCs for an environmentally friendly decorating choice.
- EASY APPLICATION: Remove dirt with a damp cloth, wipe the surface clean and dry, sand/score the surface (optional based upon the finish required), stir to mix the color and paint with a brush or roller.
9. Sharkskin 2139-30
Sharkskin is a deep gray-green. The article suggests pairing it with pastels, mustard, or deep red, and says it can also be considered for an exterior. Its greater depth makes it a candidate for a more dramatic scheme than the pale gray-green options in this list.
10. Balboa Mist OC-27
Balboa Mist is a versatile gray. In the 2024 article, Magno called it one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular grays and suggested it for walls, ceilings, and trim. That is an attributed statement in that article, not a verified current sales ranking.
Best Value
- WHAT'S IN THIS 10 PIECE PAINT KIT FOR WALLS: includes one plastic paint tray; one 9 inch roller frame; one 4 inch mini roller frame; two 9 inch microfiber roller covers (1/2 inch nap); two 4 inch microfiber roller covers (1/2 inch nap); one 1 inch flat brush; one 1.5 inch angle sash brush; one 2 inch angle sash brush
- Versatile Application: Perfect for any project, this set includes paint rollers 9 inch for large surfaces and smaller brushes for detail work
- All-in-One Kit: This paint brush set and paint tray combo ensures you have all the paint supplies needed for any home improvement task
- Professional Grade: Get a smooth, even finish with our high-quality paint roller set; ideal for applying interior paint gallon or smaller quantities
- Cost-Effective: This paint brush and roller set provides unbeatable value; includes paint pan and paint trays for easy cleanup and reuse
How to choose between the shades
- Start with undertone. White Opulence leans slightly pink; White Heron is blue-leaning; Excalibur Gray has a violet cast; Moonshine and Silver Marlin have green in their descriptions; Caliente has brown undertones; and Wolf Gray is strongly blue. These distinctions can affect how a color sits beside existing finishes.
- Match depth to the effect you want. The palette includes pale off-whites and grays as well as deep gray-green, warm black, and bold red. Decide whether you want a quiet background, a defined accent, or a dramatic surface.
- Choose for the surface, not only the room name. The recommendations distinguish among walls, trim and millwork, cabinetry, and smaller dramatic rooms. A color that appeals on a wall may read differently on cabinetry or trim.
- Check neighboring materials. Compare samples with the actual flooring, counters, trim, furnishings, and metals in the room. The article offers pairings such as Black Beauty with whites or deep greens, and Silver Marlin with brass or nickel, but does not provide measured colorimetric values or a head-to-head test.
Sample the color in the room before committing
Benjamin Moore’s official U.S. site lists paint color samples and peel-and-stick samples among its offerings, and cautions that on-screen and printed representations may differ from actual paint colors. View a physical sample in the intended room and against its real finishes before buying paint for a larger project. The ten recommendations are useful starting points, not a guarantee that a shade will look the same in every space.
Sources: MyDomaine’s October 5, 2024 article; Benjamin Moore’s official U.S. site.
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