Benjamin Moore Cedar Key: Paint Color Review
Is it beige or is it taupe? LET’S FIND OUT!
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.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.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?
WHAT’S THE LRV OF CEDAR KEY?
Cedar Key has an LRV of 61, 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 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.
The Best Paint Colors with Red-Stained Wood
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 while it usually leans a wink into taupe, in the odd light, it can pick up a flash of green (very odd).
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 carefully 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 not as warm as 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.
The Best Paint Colors to Update Dark Wood Finishes
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, where you see that shift in depth, but 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 in comparison, while still having a calming warmth.
For a bit more taupe/gray and less beige, I also love Sherwin Williams Modern Gray…
The Best White & Off-White Quartz Countertops
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,
Thanks for the article! I’m test-driving Cedar Key for my kitchen/breakfast nook and the adjoining room. The natural light is Northeast. We don’t use much lighting as it we have a wall of windows and a slider. Cedar Key is sort of flattening out. Thoughts on next move?
I LOVE Cedar Key. I just used it in my bathroom remodel and it is gorgeous! The only trouble I’m having with it is now finding a color for my bedroom. I want something dark in the green gray blue family and I can’t decide if the contrast is just too much. Not an easy color to pair ☹️
Hmmmm, that’s true. The more blue you go, the tougher it will be, so make sure there’s a solid balance of green and gray in there. I don’t know HOW dark you want to go, but what about dropping most of the blue and sticking with green, for a more natural, organic flow? BM Intrigue and Millstone Gray are beautiful! I also love the lighter look of Arctic Shadows which drops the blue entirely.
Do you think this color would go well with murky/dirty purple gray tiles and open wall of a shower?! Debating between balboa mist, collingwood, and this!
Ooo, without seeing it, I’d have to think Balboa Mist or Collingwood could be better…there’s also SW Egret White which might sit in the middle (although it’s lighter).
I painted the inside of my front door and surround Cedar Key. It is beautiful with the black hardware! Now i’m having a hard time figuring out what white color to paint the walls. I painted Dove White but it looks too cool next to the door and the orange-pink tile floor. I have sampled soooo many colors! Any suggestions? Thanks!
Sorry, I meant Dove Wing not Dove White.
We are painting our bathroom Cedar key and trying to choose a color for the trim and ceiling. Would White Dove be good for both? Thanks for your help and videos!
You betcha!
Picked Cedar Key for all the walls. I wanted to use Chantilly Lace for the trim/doors/ceiling however the painter said he’s been having coverage problems with CL and asked me to pick another color. Any recommendations??
Yeah, Chantilly Lace doesn’t cover well. White Dove is softer and warmer and can cover better, but it’s a much different approach to white. SW Pure White is kind of in between, but it HAS to be made in SW paint (they can’t color match it no matter WHAT they tell you!).
I really like this colour but my hardwood floors are a red/orange tone. Do you think they will clash?
Oh, I think it could be pretty – it has potential!
Hi Kylie. I’m trying to decide between cedar key and Malabar for southwest facing master bedroom. Dark cherry/walnut furniture. The wall to wall carpet is a light to medium brown which depending on how the light hits it can have an almost silver/gray sheen to it. Would you recommend either of these two paint colors for a master bedroom. Thanks!
Oooo, from the sounds of the carpet and its cooler vibe, I’m not sure I’d consider either!
renovated a condo. painted walls with 982 Cedar Key trim, doors and ceiling White Dove. Absolutely stunning!!
WAHOOOOO, this is just what I love to hear 🙂