HomeThe Best Paint ColoursBENJAMIN MOORE & SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Paint Color ReviewsBenjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28 Paint Color Review

Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28 Paint Color Review

Posted on January 2, 2024 by KylieMawdsley

Collingwood – not your everyday warm gray!

If you’ve been perusing Pinterest lately, you may have noticed that the shift is starting – from cool to warm, gray to greige and taupe. Sure, it’s a sloooow shift, but in my Color Consulting adventures, I’m getting more and more requests for the warmer end of things.

However, some grays are more likely to straddle worlds as they aren’t as committed to a traditionally cool gray look. And in this department, the winner-winner chicken dinner HAS to be Benjamin Moore Collingwood.

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WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS COLLINGWOOD? IS IT GRAY, TAUPE, OR BEIGE?

Collingwood OC-28 (also known as Collingwood 859) is a gray paint color. And while it’s certainly warmer than a traditional shade of gray, it’s NOT warm enough to step into the taupe or greige end of things and is DEFINITELY not beige or anywhere near it.

As it relates to Benjamin Moore’s best-selling gray paint colors, Collingwood is near the top of the list (along with colors like Classic Gray, Revere Pewter, and Stonington Gray – the OG’s of the gray world).

Benjamin Moore Collingwood, popular warm gray paint color. Dining room dark wood furniture, oak floor. Kylie M Interiors edesign, online paint consulting

 

IS COLLINGWOOD A WARM GRAY OR COOL GRAY PAINT COLOR?

Collingwood is a WARM gray paint color with a gorgeous softness that suits a wide range of interior and exterior finishes. In fact, you might be surprised to hear that many of my clients with gray interior finishes suit colors just like Collingwood – it’s a popular choice!

But what is a warm gray? Traditionally, gray is a cool color with either blue, green, or violet undertones. Once you add a bit of brown-beige to the mix, it becomes a warm gray (it’s actually way more technical than that, but I’m a meat n’ potatoes gal here).

Benjamin Moore Collingwood, best warm gray paint colour, Silver Gray ceiling, Sherwin Dover White trim, contemporary living room. Kylie M INteriors Edesign, online paint color consultant

Collingwood looks gorgeous in my client’s living room with a slightly darker, cooler shade of gray on the ceiling

 

WHAT ARE COLLINGWOOD’S UNDERTONES – WILL IT LOOK PURPLE?

While at its heart, Collingwood is a neutral paint color, it has a soft, slightly violet (purple) undertone. Will your walls be violet? Well, if you have a north-facing room and a hate-on for violet, it might make you twitch – just a bit. But generally speaking, the violet is more about the softness of the color. This undertone is also a GREAT way to get GRAY without blue or green. Just keep in mind, given the WRONG influence, almost ANY gray can pick up a subtle blue or green undertone.

In my client’s kitchen (below), notice how the undertone of Collingwood rises on the left-hand side. I LOVE it, but it’s unusual, as the undertone is USUALLY more passive (considerably). To get this actual look, you may need a color with MORE undertone or even a color that’s more of a violet hue.

Travertine tile, floor, Benjamin Moore Collingwood gray walls, cherry wood cabinets. Kylie M Interiors Edesign

This next photo shows the walls in one of my favorite local clients’ homes, in which Collingwood’s violet undertone is in a more natural state…

Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Photography by Jessie Roberston. Kylie M Interiors Online Color Consulting and E-decor services

 

WHAT’S THE LRV OF COLLINGWOOD?

The LRV of Collingwood is 62 (61.52) – MY MAGIC NUMBER! If you’ve read my previous blog posts on LRV, you’ll know this is a pretty rad number. If you haven’t read those posts, you get SLAPPED with a wet noodle and better get your reading glasses on…

62 is a great LRV because it’s a depth the ‘average room’ can handle. With Collingwood having this LRV, if your room gets adequate lighting (natural or otherwise), it will hold its own. If you have an OVERLY bright room, any paint color with this LRV (or higher) will wash out, as will Collingwood.

On the other hand, if you have a slightly darker room, Collingwood has a noticeable depth without looking too dark (although that would be open to perception). In the words of the late great Goldilocks – it’s juuuuust right.

In this hallway with dark wood flooring, Collingwood looks classic and soft…

E-design and online colour consultation by color expert and blogger Kylie M INteriors. Benjamin Moore Collingwood in a hallway with dark wood flooring and black metal railing

And while it might not be the perfect COLOR for every room, its LRV sets it up for success.

 

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The best paint colors for room or cabinets. Benjamin or Sherwin Williams paint colours. Kylie M Interiors Virtual, Edesign, online paint colour consultant and blogger market

 

COLLINGWOOD IN A NORTH-FACING ROOM

North-facing light is a cool natural light with a slightly cool gray cast (that can pick up a weee hint of blue). Just like cool light bulbs, northern light can slightly enhance other cool colors, so in a north-facing room, you can expect Collingwood to look less warm gray and more neutral gray, while still keeping a soft subtle violet undertone.

Master bedroom with laundry room in walk in closet with sliding bar door. Paint colour Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Kylie M interiors decorating and design online

In the above photo, look at the highest part of the wall, just above the closet. This shows Collingwood in its usual form.

However, even though Collingwood is a warm gray, if you have a north-facing room and want a gray, but not a cold gray, you MIGHT need to go into the light greige or taupe range as Collingwood might not be enough to hit your happy place.

 

COLLINGWOOD IN A SOUTH-FACING ROOM

In a south-facing room, Collingwood is a nice, neutral way to cool down that warm yellow light coming in the windows, offering some neutral but not COLD balance.

These next two rooms showcase Collingwood in what is likely, south-facing light…

Benjamin Moore Collingwood in 2 storey foyer with yellow maple or oak flooring and white railing. Kylie M E-design, virtual online colour consulting

Benjamin Moore Collingwood warm gray paint colour in dining room with Pure White wainscoting, beige tile floor and transitional style home decor.

If you have a south-facing room and LOVE a more traditional gray, you might not find Collingwood cool enough. If so, check out a more traditional-looking gray like Gray Owl or Stonington Gray. Gray Owl is a bit more stormy and has a green-blue undertone. Stonington Gray is also stormy, but a bit darker and commits a bit more blue in its hue – especially compared to the warm softness of Collingwood.

 

Get a Samplize Peel & Stick sample of Collingwood… 

Benjamin Moore Collingwood SAMPLIZE peel and stick sample

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COLLINGWOOD IN AN EAST OR WEST-FACING ROOM

Oooo, these rooms are buggers. While north and south-facing rooms have more consistency throughout the day, east and west-facing rooms change quite drastically. Here are a few tips to help decide if Collingwood can work for you…

EAST-FACING ROOM

In the morning, Collingwood will look lovely and quite natural. In the afternoon, it can fall a bit flat and drab if you don’t have adequate interior lighting.

Kylie M Interiors Edesign, Classic Gray, Collingwood, Sherwin Williams Pure White cabinets, Mindful Gray island, white washoak floor

WEST-FACING ROOM

In the morning, Collingwood will look a touch flat and drab. However, in the afternoon, it will shift into a GORGEOUS soft, warm gray.

The key is to figure out what time of day you spend the most time in your room and see how Collingwood feels in that light.

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

 

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLOR FOR COLLINGWOOD?

If you’re looking for a white for your trims or cabinets, Collingwood does love a slightly cleaner approach. I would lean into Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace the most, but as shown below, Simply White is also a beautiful choice.

Best warm gray paint colour, Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Popular neutral. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online color consultant and diy decorating advice (1)

 

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO COLLINGWOOD?

In the battle of the warm grays, Collingwood has some serious competition. Let’s take a look at some of Benjamin Moore’s and Sherwin William’s top-selling shades to see which ones compete…

 

COLLINGWOOD VS. BALBOA MIST

Collingwood and Balboa Mist are often in the running for the same project. This is because they have similar intentions, being warm grays with a violet undertone. However, when you compare the two, you’ll see that while both colors are in the LIGHT range, Collingwood is a bit darker (LRV of 61.52), whereas Balboa Mist is a bit lighter (LRV of 65.53). Another difference is that Balboa Mist can show a bit more undertone and the odd time a bit more pink mixed into its violet undertone.

Unlike many comparable shades, thanks to the shift in depth and tweak in undertones, Collingwood and Balboa Mist look good in a palette together (eg. adjoining rooms). Collingwood also goes well with Classic Gray, which is another similar shade of gray, it’s just much lighter with its LRV of 73.67 and has a bit more warmth (read its review HERE).

Best warm gray taupe paint colour, Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist with fake marble look flooring in bathroom. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour expert.jp

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

 

COLLINGWOOD VS. AGREEABLE GRAY

Okay, NOW we’re comparing apples to apples! Agreeable Gray and Collingwood are SUPER similar. Collingwood’s LRV is 61.52 whereas Agreeable Gray is a TOUCH darker with its LRV of 60 – you’re almost splitting hairs.

The real difference, however subtle it is, is that Collingwood commits to a violet undertone whereas Agreeable Gray is a bit more flexible – it can look slightly green OR slightly violet depending on its surroundings. Then there are times when you don’t see any undertone at all, but that can apply to BOTH colors! When I have a client who is greatly opposed to violet undertones, I’ll suggest Agreeable Gray over Collingwood, as long as it suits their space (but still mention that it CAN pick up the odd flash of violet).

 

DOES COLLINGWOOD GO WITH BLUES & GREENS?

Heck yes, but it’s not as easy as grabbing any old hue. With Collingwood being a soft neutral, it likes colors that are tone-down or slightly earth-toned. This includes popular shades of blue-grays (with a bit of green) such as Benjamin Moore Brewster Gray, Silver Mink, and the darker, striking navy-gray approach of Benjamin Moore Anchor Gray. I also LOVE Collingwood with more committed blue-green-gray blends like Benjamin Moore’s Gray Wisp.

As for green, again, a little dab will do ya. Check out the more muted, earthy greens such as Benjamin Moore’s October Mist, the darker green-gray look of Cos Cob Stonewall, and many darker shades of green as well.

 

WHAT DARK COLORS GO WITH COLLINGWOOD?

Collingwood looks gorgeous with a surprisingly large range of dark grays, blues, and greens. So, if you want to paint an accent wall, kitchen cabinets, or even your front door, Collingwood has some BEAUTIFUL dark friends you can check out…

Want something a bit different? I GOT MORE!

RELATED BLOG POSTS

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Nimbus

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

The Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors

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The best gray paint colors for your room. Benjamin and Sherwin. Edesign, Kylie M Interiors online paint colour services. Home decorating and diy ideas blogger.market

Chat soon,

Kylie M Interiors, decorating blog, e-design, online colour consulting expert. signature

This post was originally published in 2017 but was updated and revamped in 2024



Comments

  1. Hi! Thank you so much for your videos and information. I’m thinking of repainting my house Classic Grey, and my kitchen cabinets Collingwood. What are your thoughts?

  2. Hello! I’m going to buy Collingwood for my dining room. I’m considering painting the inset ceiling over my dining table too and I like the color you have in the picture near the top of this page. It looks like a dark gray. Do you remember what color it is? Thank you!

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  3. Hi kylie love your blog, I’ve painted my kitchen cabinets in collingwood I think it pairs beautifully with my walnut worktop and stainless Steel appliances, which color could I use on the walls for some contrast?

  4. Hi Kylie,
    My dining room furniture is painted BM smokey taupe and tops are stained a very dark brown. Adjacent room is painted balboa mist. I’m looking for a light color that would coordinate with both. Room faces northeast window. Would Collingwood, pale oak, winds breath or edgecomb gray lightened work? I appreciate any suggestions.
    Thank you!
    Julia

  5. Would you still lean towards collingwood as a whole house color with the onset of the warmer trends? Trying to decide between collingwood, possibly balboa mist, or a white. Hope to sell this year or next.

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      Hi Ann! The warm grays are definitely going to last longer than the cooler ones, so I’m not AS concerned with this, as long as it really suits the interior finishes. YOu could also consider doing some rooms a soft warm white like White Dove for some balance.

  6. Collingwood looks really good with my fireplace and against the upper white and wood tone cabinets I’m putting in the kitchen. I’ll check out white dove and maybe SW origami white as well! Thanks a bunch! If you get to the Chicago area I have a couple of South African wines I’d like to introduce you to. =)

  7. Hi Kylie, I painted our short hallway to our bedrooms edgecomb gray. I have one bedroom painted Gray Mist, and considering painting the other 2 collingwood. 1 bedroom has a north facing window & the other 2 are south. Thoughts about this colour combinations?

  8. My kitchen is balboa mist, which I love. I’m looking for a good color for the adjoining room. Would Collingwood flow well with balboa mist? Trim in linen white.

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      You know, it’s been a few years, but I’m sure it’s either Silver Spring or Blue Springs – I’m sure ‘Spring’ was in the name!

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  9. Hi! I think I’ve settled on painting my office BM Simply White with Collingwood as an accent wall. My office furniture is an antique white color and the pops of color will be blush. The room is south-facing and I’m looking for a light, soft, feminine, but mature feel. Problem is, I have no confidence in myself in these things. Do you think Simply White and Collingwood would look ok with antique white furniture? And what trim color would you say?

    I’m so thankful for people like you who are good at this!

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      Hey Jaime! This could be a pretty combo. I’m a BIT worried about Simply White looking a bit more yellow with your southern light, but I DO think that if you do the ceilings/trims/doors Simply White it can help tone this down (whereas if you did whiter trim, it would ACCENT the yellow in Simply White 🙂

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