Benjamin Moore Cedar Key: Undertones, Lighting, & Best Uses

Benjamin Moore Cedar Key is one heck of a versatile, warm neutral paint color. But what makes it a great option for your walls or exterior? You’ll find out shortly.

When it comes to choosing the best neutral paint color for your home, it’s often a toss-up between beige and taupe. But what if you could get the benefits of both without committing 100% to either? You can, which is why we’re taking an up-close and personal look at Benjamin Moore Cedar Key – one of my favorite color ninjas.

99.9% of the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, talented photographers, & 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.

Seriously, while there are MANY colors that I don’t blame people for not using, I’m surprised that more of my clients haven’t jumped on the Cedar Key train – I sure hope it works for you. If so, I’d love to see your photos of it in action!

WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS CEDAR KEY?

In the very depths of its heart, Cedar Key is a beige paint color. However, unlike traditional beige paint colors, which can flash overly warm, Cedar Key looks like it’s been lightly dusted with gray, giving it a slightly taupe look.

(Clients hire me because I make connections like this – all from photos!)

If you have a south-facing room or one with western afternoon sunshine, expect Cedar Key to look a bit more beige than usual. However, in a north-facing room or a room with flatter, duller light, Cedar Key might lean a touch more taupe, losing some of its orange-beige look.

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

THE LRV OF CEDAR KEY

Cedar Key has an LRV of 61.05, making it a light-depth paint color.

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life, AND your marriage.

If you have a dark room, the subtle, light warmth of Cedar Key can be a nice way to balance off the shadows without stepping into a legit beige paint color. However, without enough interior lighting, it can look a bit drab.

If you have a bright room, the LRV of Cedar Key helps it hold its depth a bit better than lighter colors, although it will still wash out quite a bit.

How to Make a Dark Room Look Brighter – and it ain’t with paint! 

The Best LIGHT Paint Colors for a DARK room

WHAT ARE CEDAR KEY’S UNDERTONES?

This is where things get interesting (if you’re a color nerd like me). Because Cedar Key is a beige paint color, it has an orange undertone. However, if you compare it to more traditional beige and tan paint colors, OR look at it in the right environment, it can lean into taupe.

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But (a Cardi-B-sized one, so it’s a biiiiig old but), it’s not super committed to that taupe backdrop. That’s right, while Cedar Key has some gray to calm it down and usually leans a wink into taupe-greige (purple-pink).

Should you expect it? 

Definitely not. But sample carefully and compare it to similar shades (which we’ll do shortly) to see how it settles for you.

For example, take a look at these comparisons…

REVIEWS: SW Aesthetic White | SW Egret White | BM Classic Gray | SW Natural Linen

Which one seems like it could pick up a weeeee willy wink o’ green? That’s right – Cedar Key. However, on a large scale, it always seems to dissipate.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Cedar Key…

WHAT WHITES GO WITH CEDAR KEY?

Benjamin Moore Cedar Key looks good with a variety of white paint colors for trims and cabinets, including…

• Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Benjamin Moore White Dove (the warmest of these three)
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (the whitest of these three)

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors

IS CEDAR KEY A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

It certainly could be! Cedar Key can be beautiful when partnered with the right brick or stone exterior. However, if you have south-facing light or a home with afternoon western exposure, make sure you like HOW WARM Cedar Key looks when the sun hits it at full steam.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?

DOES CEDAR KEY GO WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIMS?

Hmmm. Good question. Off the top of my head, I’ll say no. However, if you have a super muted cream that isn’t glazed and a darkish space, it miiiight make the cut…but only by a few short n’ curlies.

There are so many variations of cream cabinets and trims out there that I can’t say for sure. However, you could find just what you’re looking for in this blog post: The Best Paint Colors to Update Cream Cabinets & Trims.

DOES CEDAR KEY GO WITH WOOD CABINETS & TRIMS?

You bet your cute little booty it does! While it’s definitely not a one-color-fits-all scenario, Cedar Key pairs well with red-stained and pink-stained woods, in particular. While it can handle some orange-pink hues, too, be careful with yellow-stained woods.

BM Edgecomb Gray | BM Pale Oak | BM Sea Pearl

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR

If you’re looking for an alternative to Cedar Key, you’re one smart cookie. It’s not that Cedar Key isn’t stinkin’ gorgeous, it is, it’s just that sometimes you don’t know a color is the BEST until you compare it to similar shades – you never know what you’ll end up choosing!

CEDAR KEY VS. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY/BABY FAWN

If Edgecomb Gray or Baby Fawn are both in the running for your painting project, you can throw one away.

Why? They’re the same color, just with different names. (They also have a 3rd name – Alaskan Skies – THANK YOU, BENJAMIN MOORE, FOR CONFUSING EVERYBODY!).

In comparing Cedar Key with Edgecomb Gray/Baby Fawn, you’ll see some good similarities, but important differences.

Baby Fawn has an LRV of 63.09, which, compared to Cedar Key’s 61.05, makes it a bit lighter, but still very comparable – both colors are in the light range.

As for undertones, Baby Fawn/Edgecomb Gray is what I fondly refer to as a greige-taupe, as it’s not committed to green or purple-pink undertones. It also sits SMACK DAB in the middle of gray and beige, which makes it grayer and less warm than Cedar Key.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

CEDAR KEY vs SMOKEY TAUPE

In the Benjamin Moore Classics fan deck, Smokey Taupe (also known as Inukshuk) is listed below Cedar Key, which makes a good amount of sense.

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Starting with depth, Smokey Taupe has an LRV of 54.53, which puts it in the light-medium range, so it’s kind of like a darker version of Cedar Key – it has a bit more meat on its smoked bones.

While it’s a tiny image (I take what I can get!), here’s a great comparison between Cedar Key and Smokey Taupe, showing that shift in depth while maintaining similar intentions…

Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe: IMAGES, Info, & More

And just like Cedar Key, while Smokey Taupe hits the beige world lightly and tips its hat toward taupe, it’s not 100% committed to that taupiness as some others.

What about Sherwin Williams?

Ooooo, I’d definitely look at Sherwin Williams Kestrel White, which is lighter than Cedar Key and can come up a touch creamy-beige in comparison, but is a good one to sample. Kestrel White seems a touch fresher and airier, while still retaining a calming warmth.

For a bit more taupe/gray and less beige, I also love Sherwin Williams Modern Gray…

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Or the similar, but more grounded, less taupe look of Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige…

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige: IMAGES, Info, & More

WHAT COLORS GO WITH CEDAR KEY?

When coordinating paint colors with Cedar Key, it’s important to note that Cedar Key doesn’t LOVE being partnered with colors that are cooler and lighter than it.

Really, Cedar Key can be a bit fussy, especially when it comes to warm paint color partners, as it does best with color ‘accenting’ colors.

• a wide range of green-gray paint colors (approx. LRV 55 or darker)
• greige paint colors that are medium depth or darker greige
• medium and darker, warm shades of taupe can be interesting partners
• some subtle warm, off-white paint colors are worth sampling with Cedar Key

READ MORE

The 12 Best LIGHT Taupe & Greige Paint Colors

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Natural Linen

The Best Beige & Tan Paint Colors for Today’s MODERN Home

The Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE!

Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!

Chat soon,