Benjamin Moore Regal, Ben, Aura, Advance: A Color Experts Top Picks

As one of North America’s leading paint color experts (and growing in the UK), I have a thing or two to say about paint brands, particularly Benjamin Moore. I’ve used and recommended them to my local and online color clients for 25+ years, and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon (Sherwin Williams is equally in my good books, but I haven’t written that blog post yet).

So I figured it was time to share some of my favorite Benjamin Moore paint lines, along with my top sheens for a range of finishes, including exteriors, cabinets, walls, and more.

And because I ain’t no one-trick pony (more of a donkey sometimes), I’m also sharing photos of my home, clients’ homes, and gorgeous photos from my files, so you can see some action!

By the way, I don’t get paid by Benjamin Moore…for anything…at all. For all of my hard work, I pay myself in personal high-fives, Doritos, white wine, and copious Love Island reruns. This means I’m not indebted to anyone, nor do I have to kiss any toosh for kudos – nor would I, regardless. So, let’s get this color party started…

KYLIE M’S RECOMMENDED BM INTERIOR WALL PAINT

AURA, MATTE FINISH | SCUFFX, MATTE FINISH

I’ve used almost all of the lines of Benjamin Moore paint – Contractor Grade, Ben, Regal, Aura.

CONTRACTOR GRADE: Never again – I’d rather staple Jello to a tree, I’d rather have a gasoline enema. This said, I don’t trust or like any brand’s Contractor Grade paint that I’ve tried. It’s called ‘Contractor Grade’ for a reason – because many contractor’s love to save money. They don’t have to live with the paint once it’s on the wall – they get to move onto the next project.

My Mom’s painter used BM’s Contractor Grade throughout her home (much to my dismay). Aside from the fact that he left the walls absolutely hairy with lint (hairier than my winter legs, and that’s sayin’ something), within 6 months the walls were scuffed and chalky looking. As shown in this next photo, it’s good from far, but up close, it’s very far from good…

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While there is a place for everything and every budget – not on my walls, Satan.

BEN: It’s a hard no. In fact, it’s SO hard, I’m getting a little excited (HERE). No, you won’t see a picture of me excited; it’ll take you to BM’s site.

REGAL: This one is the real enchilada when it comes to a balance of cost vs. quality. In fact, I was married to Benjamin Moore Regal for years (we made beautiful babies). I haven’t tried it since they updated the formula, but apparently it’s even better. Admittedly, I found its previous lack of washabilty frustrating. Wipeability? Sure, but sometimes you need to do more than ‘wipe’ your walls. I didn’t like the marring and dull spots that were left if I went too hard. However, it matched my budget and was better than other paints I’ve tried. Apparently the new formula is WAY more washable and even scuff-resistant.

Lightened version of Edgecomb Gray / darkened Revere Pewter doors | White Dove trim

AURA: COME TO MOMMA – I love this paint. When my walls get painted, I want them to look subtle; like matte velvet. For this look with BM, I choose and recommend Benjamin Moore Aura in a matte finish. I want smooth consistency and no flashing (although in a previous life I was a big fan of flashing). Admittedly, a lot of this comes down to the painter, which is why my favorite painter is Delea of Details Painting – she’s badass and beautiful, and can flash me any day.

For walls, I always choose matte. This gives me the low-lustre look I love with some washability. Is it as hardy as ScuffX? Nope, but it’s good enough for my residential walls. And on that topic…

SCUFFX: Damn, do I love this stuff. I first came across it during Covid, when we were building and the stores were low on paint. Most of what they had left was ScuffX matte and eggshell. So, I chose matte for the walls and eggshell for the trims/doors.

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We were using this home for ourselves and for Air B & B (as it’s at a lake). Let me tell you, ScuffX came in handy, as a lot of suitcases and bags went up and down these stairs…

Benjamin Moore White Dove

Why did I choose such a low sheen for the trim and doors, you might ask?

1. It was Covid – I didn’t have a choice.
2. I’ve found ScuffX sheens to be a bit glossier compared to the standard lines. So, their matte looks a bit more like an eggshell (I’d prefer a matte finish, but they just didn’t have it), and their eggshell looks a bit like a satin, which is my favorite finish for trim and doors.

BATHROOMS: I also love using ScuffX matte in my bathrooms. I like it’s lower sheen level compared to some Kitchen & Bath finishes, while still having some great washability.

Seriously, for walls that get a low of wear and tear, ScuffX is amazeballs. It’s intended for commercial use, so it can be a great choice for walls that get beat up on a regular basis. Not only does it resist scuffing, if you get marks on the wall, they actually WASH OFF without leaving a mark on the wall. Weird, I know (with extreme exceptions, I’m sure).

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE TRIM, DOOR, & CABINET PAINT

ADVANCE, SATIN | SCUFFX, EGGSHELL

While some love the gloss of a semi-gloss, I find it can look a bit too show and abrasive in some homes, especially on cabinets. This is why I almost always suggest a satin finish.

ADVANCE: Advance is an awesome paint for trim, doors, and cabinets. With a beautiful levelling. While the drying time for Benjamin Moore Advance used to be painfully long, apparently they’ve improved it, bringing it up to par with Aura.

Why do I prefer Benjamin Moore Advance or Aura for trim, doors, and cabinets?

I like that it has great self-levelling properties (that can be improved with Floetrol if you have low humidity or even low humidititties (we all get to that age…)

I like how Advance is a waterborne alkyd – water clean-up, but tends to act a bit more like good ole oil paint. Advance also has a harder film than Aura, which is needed for cabinets, trim, and doors.

BUT (Kardashian-sized, so it’s a biggun)…

SCUFFX: I also love ScuffX for trim and doors. It’s hard, it’s scuff-resistant, and it’s eggshell finish is a really interesting one if you don’t love a super shiny trim/door.

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KYLIE M’S RECOMMENDED BM EXTERIOR PAINT

BENJAMIN MOORE AURA, LOW-LUSTRE SHEEN

Without a doubt, Benjamin Moore Aura is my favorite BM exterior paint. I’ve used it, abused it, and it keeps on kickin’. We painted the exterior of our home 8+ years ago in a low-luster sheen and it still looks glorious – I’m sure we’ll get several more years out of it (and the front of our home faces full south).

EXTERIOR TRIM

BENJAMIN MOORE AURA, SATIN FINISH

I recommend Aura for exterior trim, having used it on my home (and many client’s homes – it’s not ALL about me – not all the time).

GARAGE DOOR

Personally, I don’t love a super shiny garage door, so I’m most inclined toward Aura, low-lustre, so the sheen is simlar to my siding. If you prefer more sheen, hit up the satin finish (just be careful with darker garage door colors as it can get a lil’ fugly.

What Color Should Your Garage Doors Be?

FRONT DOOR (INSIDE & OUTSIDE)

SCUFFX, PEARL FINISH | ADVANCE, SATIN FINISH

Doors get a ton of wear and tear, which is why my money is on Benjamin Moore ScuffX Pearl, which is the closest to a real satin finish. I haven’t used semi-gloss in ScuffX, but given how their sheen levels seem to be slightly higher than the usual, I would expect semi-gloss to be pretty obnoxious.

Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl & Cheating Heart

However, I like Advance for this job too (especially the exterior) – great levelling with a nice, hardy finish.

THE COST VS. THE QUALITY

Is Aura the most affordable paint? HELLLLLLLS no.  But do I want to repaint my exterior every 5-6 years (or less) because I used an ‘affordable, potentially lower-quality paint’ – also no.

It’s time to do some Math (not my strong point, so stay with me…). Let’s say you have a 2500 sq ft home and need to paint the exterior (main house color). This might take around 20 gallons (on the high side).

• BM AURA: Average $100 per gallon = $2000 (you may want to double-check that).
• BM REGAL: Not bad paint, but it ain’t Aura. The average price is $75 per gallon. At 20 gallons that’s…damn, where’s my calculator. $1500.

Before, this home’s white siding was a bit ‘womp womp wohhhhhmp’

After, it looks so much more inviting painted BM Collingwood with SW Iron Ore 

For the cost of painting my exterior, not wanting to redo is anytime soon, and for a skookum, washable finish that holds up super well in direct sun, will I spend an extra $500? You bet your cute lil’ booty I will.

Of course, if you find some budget-friendly exterior paint around $50, it would cost about $1000 for your paint. Would I use that paint on my home? If I were on a tight budget and simply couldn’t afford better paint? Yes, that’s life. However, if I can save money on something else (like maybe the paint for my garage doors, which are way easier to repaint in 5 years), I’d rather put extra towards quality siding paint – you do you, boo.

Here’s another good before and after where we just painted the trim and garage doors…

And I’m not talking out of my arse here, either – I’ve USED this paint repeatedly and recommended it to many people…because it’s just that good.

Will some painter come on here and tell me how much they hate these paints? Sure. Every painter has their favorite line; some (but not all!) choose cost and familiarity over quality.

If I had a toonie (being Canadian) for every time I’ve heard of a painter trying to talk a homeowner into some lower-level ‘awesome paint‘ from a brand who can ‘perfectly color-match‘ any Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams color – I’d have a buttload of toonies (look it up, it’s a thing). And then there are painters who try BM or SW and realize it’s pretty dang awesome and worth the money.

In the end, you do you, boo.

Recently I tried Sherwin Williams Symmetry for the tongue and groove in our bathroom (satin finish). Photos are coming – it’s a hot mess for a while yet as we don’t even have plumbing yet. Morbid curiousity drew me to Symmetry, as I’d heard good things. My quick summary?

• Gorgeous satin finish – not too dull, not too glossy (I like it more than their Emerald satin finish as it’s a bit more passive – I found Emerald satin a touch shiny for my PERSONAL tastes. Others might prefer want a touch more sheen – you do you, boo).
• I put Floetrol to slow down the dry time and encourage self-levelling (as it’s me doing the painting, not Delea) and it still dried SUPER FAST – even faster than my boob sweat. All the same, it levelled very well, considering a very quick dry time (my bathroom’s humidity must be SUPER low).
• Beautiful to roll or brush – very little splatter.
• In all, I’m suuuuper happy with it.

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