Benjamin Moore Muslin: Undertones, LRV, & Where It Works Best
By Kylie
May 21, 2024
Benjamin Moore Muslin is a light, warm beige paint color that’s also one of the more timeless options. It works well on interior walls, especially in whole homes, open-concept spaces, and bedrooms.
Its orange-leaning undertone influences how well it coordinates with interior finishes and can easily change appearance under different lighting conditions.
That’s why today, we’re taking a look at Muslin in REAL homes, to see whether it’s the best color for you and yours.
WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS MUSLIN?
Muslin is a beige paint color (making it a warm neutral), but it isn’t as traditionally golden or dark as many beige paint colors from the early 2000s. Old-school beiges can look dated in today’s modern home. On the other hand, a more updated warm neutral like Muslin is popular because of its depth and more subtle undertones.
Kilim Beige is a slightly more traditional, heavy shade of beige
Being a bodacious beige, Muslin is a great color to balance cool north-facing light. And while it will look much warmer in a south-facing or west-facing exposure, it handles the heat much better than more intense, saturated shades of beige.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
THE LRV OF MUSLIN
Muslin has an LRV of almost 66.54. This number means it’s in the ‘light’ range—not quite off-white, but on the slightly lighter end of things. If your room is super bright, colors with a higher LRV can wash out quite a bit – like Muslin. Just note that this changes throughout the day, and overall, Muslin can settle in a great place when given a nice white trim to contrast with (more on this below).
The white paper is there for reference/comparison. the lower is Samplize Peel & Stick of Muslin
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
WHAT ARE ITS UNDERTONES?
Well, it can depend on what you pair it with, as your perception of color can easily shift based on what you compare it to. Generally speaking, Muslin favors a gentle, subtle orange undertone with no strong preference for a secondary pink or yellow undertone, which is why it’s so flexible.
Notice the shift in how it looks from the left side of the fireplace to the right!
‘Undertone’ is a slang way of describing the way a color leans, or its natural bias.
For example, if you put Muslin alongside a carpet with a strong pink undertone, Muslin could look considerably more orange just in comparison. On the other hand, partner it up with cream, which is a yellow-base color and it will look MUCH more orange-pink in comparison.
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE of Muslin
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLOR WITH MUSLIN?
If you want to refresh your trim or paint your cabinets, several whites kick it with Muslin…
- Benjamin Moore Cloud White
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
IS IT A GOOD EXTERIOR COLOR?
Muslin can be a gorgeous exterior color if you’re looking for a soft, gentle, warm look, knowing that it will wash out in bright light (any light neutral will). It’s also an EXCELLENT choice if you want a soft but ‘not white’ trim color, as Muslin accommodates many popular stones and even some bricks.
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
WHICH COLORS ARE SIMILAR?
Whether you’re looking for comparables within Benjamin Moore or want a similar shade to compare in Sherwin Williams, I’ve got some beauties for you!
- Sherwin Williams Natural Linen
- Benjamin Moore Maritime White
- Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige
- Sherwin Williams Rivers Edge (China Doll)
WHAT COLORS GO WITH MUSLIN?
Like every paint color, Muslin has some limitations, but it IS reasonably flexible…
- It LOVES earth tones and ‘colors’ with an earthy base. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter looks great in rooms adjoining Muslin.
- It’s finicky when it comes to cream, as MANY creams have too much yellow in them for the more orange-pink base of Muslin.
- It loves to be complemented by light green paint colors, as long as they have a reasonable depth.
- Shades of greige can be great partners with Muslin, as long as they’re darker than it.
- Darker, muted greens are great accent colors; whether for feature walls, islands, or interior doors.
READ MORE
The Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors with NO YELLOW!
The 8 Top ‘Whole Home’ Paint Colors
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2024 FOR YOU!
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95
Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
118-page PDF – Instant Download
$24.95
Comments
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This post was November 2019. Benjamin Moore 2021 top colors listed muslin. Of course you are always ahead of the times ! Love your style !
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Hi kylie I have muslin in my landing with black carper, it’s time to switch up the carpet and I feel the black is too harsh looking. What color do you suggest to pair nicely with muslin?
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Hi Kylie! Would muslin be a good choice in my bathroom with the (I’m sorry!) almond tub, sink and toilet?
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Oooo, it might have a touch too much orange in it – sample though and check!
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I’m having trouble coming up with a living room color to compliment camels, golds, blacks. Western exposure. Lenox Tan would work but it is a bit dark and color will also be in a darker entryway and hallway. I’ve looked at Bleeker Beige, Manchester Tan and Jute. I would love your input. Thank you.
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Oh gosh, Nancy, it’s really so hard without seeing your room and how it all comes together! I mean, off the TOP of my head, maybe Muslin, but that’s kind of a shot in the dark! If you’d like me to take a look, I do have consulting! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/hire-kylie/
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Hi Kylie! What color ceiling might I pair with Muslin walls and Dove White
Trim? I have 9, 10, and 12 foot ceilings!
Lots of light, too
Thank you for all of your wisdom!
Love you!
Julie-
Hey! Do you mean White Dove trim? If so, I would lean into White Dove ceiling, although if the ceilings are flat, some people might do Muslin on the ceiling, especially on the higher ones!
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Hi Kylie! Love your site to death! It’s so amazing! Thinking about painting my south and west facing living room walls Muslin and wondering as I carried it down the hallway if I could paint trim, baseboards, doors etc the same colour. (Ceilings in living room are vaulted with that very warm orangey wood)
Thanks!
Sandon-
Hey Sandon, thank you, I’m so glad you found me!
So, yes, I might consider that, as long as the hallway isn’t too dark!
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Thanks!
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Hi Kylie,
O have a small bathroom with bright lighting no window.
I was going to put stone house BM on walls and considering painting small vanity and mirror frame in muslin BM
What are your thoughts for that colour on vanity.
Thank you kindly.
Pat-
That sounds like an interesting combo, it could be pretty if it suits your surrounding finishes!
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