Benjamin Moore Sea Salt CSP-95: Paint Color Review -

IS IT GRAY, IS IT GREIGE, WHAT ARE ITS UNDERTONES? LET’S FIND OUT!

If there’s one popular neutral that I’ve spent the least amount of time with, it has to be Benjamin Moore Sea Salt.

Why?

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Sea Salt is in Benjamin Moore’s Color Stories Collection. While these colors are amazing, they’re unpredictable.

Why?

You ask a lot of questions…I like that about you.

Most paint colors are made of say, 3-4 tints/colorants mixed together. Color Stories shades are made with 7-8 different tints. This blend means they can be unpredictable, changing their undertones easier than more standard paint colors.

So, this isn’t to say that Benjamin Moore Sea Salt isn’t stinkin’ pretty, it is, it’s just not easy. Let’s find out what makes this popular paint color tick…

WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS BENJAMIN MOORE SEA SALT?

Sea Salt is warm neutral paint color, sandwiched between gray and greige. It caters a bit more to warmth over gray, so is more likely to read as a greige.

If you have north-facing light that feels a tit bit nipply, the passive warmth of Sea Salt can be a nice way to add balance without committing to a traditional shade of beige or tan.

On the other hand, if you have south-facing or warm afternoon western sunshine, Sea Salt isn’t so warm that it overwhelms a room with visual heat!

North, East, South, West: Which Paint Color is the Best?

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of BM Sea Salt…

WHAT ARE BENJAMIN MOORE SEA SALT’S UNDERTONES?

Make no boners about it (not easy for me, but I’ll try) – Sea Salt has green undertones. Warm grays and greiges lean toward green or purple-pink. While purple-pink (taupe) undertones tend to suit more interior finishes, there’s often a place for the subtle green hue in Sea Salt.

Sea Salt’s undertones offer an organic, natural approach to color.

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO BENJAMIN MOORE SEA SALT?

This is going to be useful. Why? Well, I don’t trust Sea Salt. Sure, it has a warm green undertone and comes off as a greige, but as explained earlier, there’s no telling what it may or may not do in different exposures, times of day, and interior lighting situations.

Personally, I’m more inclined to more popular neutral paint colors – not that any shade is fool-proof, they’ll all change their tune throughout the day, but some are more proven than others.

BM SEA SALT VS. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER

This is a fantastic comparison. Sea Salt and Revere Pewter definitely pick up what each other is throwin’ down.

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Both are warm gray-greige hybrids
Both colors can pick up a beautiful, earthy green undertone

I purposely chose this next image as it shows how colors like Sea Salt and Revere Pewter can look a bit drab in lower light rooms (this room is painted Revere Pewter)…

The Best Paint Colors for a Dark Room

The main difference is in depth (LRV). Sea Salt’s LRV of 61 is higher and lighter than Revere Pewter’s LRV of 55.05. So, for those who find Sea Salt a bit too light (or Revere Pewter too dark), the other can be a good alternative.

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter Review: MORE IMAGES & Info!

BM SEA SALT VS BENJAMIN MOORE RODEO

COME TO MOMMA – I love this friggin’ comparison! The main reason I’m getting all jacked is that BM Sea Salt and Rodeo have similar depths. Rodeo’s LRV is 59.84, putting it just a wink lower and darker than Sea Salt’s 61. Clearly I’m easily excited.

The next shift you’ll see is that Rodeo comes up just a touch warmer and muddier compared to Rodeo – just a wink, which is what makes these two such great comparisons as sometimes that small tweak in temperature can make all the difference!

Benjamin Moore Rodeo Review: MORE IMAGES & Info

DOES SHERWIN WILLIAMS HAVE A SIMILAR SHADE?

Sherwin Williams won’t have an exact match to Benjamin Moore’s Sea Salt – it doesn’t work that way. However, it has several paint colors with similar intentions to sample and compare…

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray is gorgeous if you want a wink more depth and warmth.
Sherwin Williams Useful Gray is useful if you need more warm green undertone than Sea Salt offers.

Here’s Worldly Gray in a beautiful ensuite bathroom…

WHAT’S BM SEA SALT’S LRV?

Sea Salt has an LRV of 61, putting it in the light range, on the slightly lower, darker end of it.

If you have a dark room, a color like Sea Salt can look super drab, murky, and muddy. While muddy is a good word in some situations, not in a dark room.

If you have a reasonably well-lit room, Sea Salt will be at its best, especially when given a nice white trim or cabinet to contrast with.

All the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, & friends— because real homes deserve to be celebrated (dirty laundry & all!) While not magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas & proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.

However, because I rarely recommend Sea Salt and my clients/friends don’t use it, I don’t have images. If you end up using it, please send photos!

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM WITH BM SEA SALT?

Sea Salt is reasonably easy to please and likes being paired with a range of whites, especially…

Benjamin Moore White Dove, a soft, warm, gentle shade of white.
If you want more contrast, check out Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace which is a brighter white.
If you don’t mind cheating on Ben, check out Sherwin Williams Pure White, it’s amazeballs.

WHAT COLORS GO WITH BM SEA SALT?

Sea Salt is one of the popular kids and has a wide range of friends. While it depends on whether you need a color for an accent wall with Sea Salt, cabinet, island, adjoining room, or otherwise, you’re bound to find what you need here…

Sea Salt looks gorgeous with a range of greiges that are light-medium depth and darker
It also suits some grays with green undertones, especially once you get into the darker gray-green end of things.
It can handle some muted, less creamy off-white paint colors.
Check out a range of solid, stormy, gray-blue blends as well as green-gray paint colors.

IS SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT THE SAME COLOR AS BENJAMIN MOORE SEA SALT?

Heck no, these colors have absolutely nothing in common. However, if you’re looking for a beautiful shade of green-gray that can flex into blue, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt is a stunner!

IS SEA SALT A POPULAR PAINT COLOR?

While it has a cult-like following, so did David Koresh, and we know how that ended up. Long story short, it’s a beautiful color, but it’s not popular because…

a) It’s more unpredictable than many other similar colors.

b) It used to be in its own fan deck, making it harder for people to come across it (not as mainstream). Since it’s been moved to the Benjamin Moore Collections set, it might get a bit more attention.

c) While its earthy green can be beautiful, more interior finishes suit a subtle taupe (purple-pink) undertone than green. This said, that never held Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter back…

READ MORE

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