COLOUR SPOTLIGHT – Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28
Picking an all-over new wall paint colour for the inside of your home can be daunting, especially with all those choices. Plus, you’ll need quite a bit of paint so it’s a financial investment (especially if you’re hiring a painter), a time investment and let’s not forget that you’ll be living with it for a while so it’s a commitment too. No wonder there’s a lot of pressure to get it right!
Recently, one of our customers came into the shop with a dilemma. She’s moving into a new home where the existing wall colour doesn’t match her style. She doesn’t have the option of testing shades because the house is currently occupied and she has limited access. We spent one morning looking at contemporary neutrals and narrowed it down to two – Benjamin Moore Gray Owl or Collingwood.
Found in a collection of whites, Collingwood has great depth which makes it a great choice if your rooms have a good bit of light. It won’t look washed out and contrasts well with white trim or woodwork. It’s a grey with a warm taupe undertone and pairs great with everything from cool coastal decor in shades of seafoam and blue to whitewashed country spaces full of warm woods. Compared to some other popular colours, it’s darker than Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist and warmer than Gray Owl.
Some of my favourite Collingwood spaces are below so don’t forget to Pin them for the future or click on the photos to be redirected to the sources. And don’t forget that light has a huge impact on the way a colour looks so if you do have the time, test it on your walls to make sure it works in your home.
Neutral walls are a the perfect background for colorful accessories! I love how this soft green couch and bright pillows cheer up this cozy living room.
In the bedroom, keeping the wall colour simple is restful to the eyes and a great way to create a calming space perfect for relaxing at the end of a long day. Have fun with colour by changing up the sheets. It’s a great way to give your space a fresh look on a budget.
There are never enough hours in the day to get everything done and having a home office is a great way to keep work organized. Keep the distractions to a minimum with a neutral wall paint colour and add warmth with wood, accessories and fabrics. TIP: In small spaces, paint the walls and ceiling in the same colour to minimize contrast and make the space feel larger.
I love white trim and doors and this living room is a great example of how Collingwood can make architectural accessories (and that fireplace) stand out. Clean lines in furniture and light floors help make the space feel modern and sleek without sacrificing comfort.
By painting the entire interior one colour your spaces will flow effortlessly from one room to the next. A single neutral shade is great if you have a lot of walls that share rooms.
It helps to have a clean and stylish space to get motived for those household chores like laundry! In high traffic areas make sure you pick a quality paint with a washable finish to keep the walls looking great for years. At home I use Benjamin Moore Aura in Matte. It hides some of the wall imperfections, covers like a dream, and wipes clean easily.
Looking for more great neutral wall paint colour ideas? Click here to check out mu other post – “Neutrals That Are Anything But Boring”
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HAPPY PAINTING!
25 Responses to “COLOUR SPOTLIGHT – Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28”
I am having complete painters remorse right now – I have my whole house done in Swiss Coffee and it’s great but this is just FAB!
Swiss Coffee is also a great colour so don’t despair! It’s quite a bit lighter than Collingwood and less taupe/more green but still neutral enough to work with almost everything. Thank you for visiting and have a great rest of the week!
Do you have a recommendation for a colour that is a bit darker than Collingwood? I love the tone and have it elsewhere in the house but would like the same colour but just a bit darker.
Thanks!
Hello Cynthia. For a shade darker than Collingwood I would try Benjamin Moore 1550 Cumulus Cloud. Alternately you can ask the paint store to mix you Collingwood but 25% darker. Hope this helps!
thank you for the review. We are thinking of painting our kitchen and eating area collingwood. Our family room is open to the kitchen and we would like a darker colour to make it feel warmer. Would Rockport Gray HC-105 work?
I would try a sample of Rockport Gray before you make a commitment. It’s a bit dark on the chip and it will only look darker on the wall. I would also try Benjamin Moore Thunder AF-685. It’s along the same lines but a bit lighter. Let me know which one works!
Just painted my great room (12-foot ceilings, tons of light) in Collingwood, but it has a definite pink/purple look to it. When my friend saw it she even commented, “I thought it was going to be gray, not purple!” Yikes! What can I do with furnishings and accent colors to detract from the purple tones?
Hello Angela. I would decorate with warm grey tones (think linen). You can also use shades of teal, muddy aqua and shades of dusty blue or navy.
We have recently painted our main floor in Balboa Mist. (family room, kitchen & dining room). We love the color in all rooms except the East facing Living Room which receives a great deal of natural light. The purple/lavender undertones are too evident and we’d like to repaint this room only with a more neutral (but similar) color. Any advice on a compatible color with little undertones? Thanks!
Good morning Barbara. Thank you for visiting. In the living room try Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23 (warmer) or Benjamin Moore Intense White OC-51 (cooler) to avoid the undertones. Have a great day!
Do you have a suggestion for a white to use on woodwork/cabinets that coordinates with Collingwood?
Good evening Angela. Thank you for your comment. I sometimes think we over-think shades of white. I love the clean crisp out-of-the-can white. It’s the pastel base used for tinting and it’s bright white without any undertones. If you’re looking for a bit more colour Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover OC-25 is lovely and will go well with Collingwood.
Will BM Collingwood go with beige(pink undertone) ceramic floor tile with grey swirls, honey oak stairs and a ginger ale coloured carpet? Help! I need a paint colour in the two storey foyer that will tie this mess together!
Good morning Brenda! Since Collingwood is a warm grey it should go but would you be able to email me a picture of your space? There may be another shade that works better – row@northrock.bm.
Just sent you some photos…
Hello Brenda! I just sent you an email with some suggestions. Have a great night!
Hi Brenda! I am trying to decide between Collingwood, Balboa Mist and Revere Pewter in a kitchen into family room space in a farmhouse. The floors are a warm dark stained wide plank wood. The ceilings and trim will be Chantilly Lace. Living room has charcoal sectional and red/black Persian rugs along with Native American art and a Pendleton covered chair. Northwest rustic. Fireplace is rustic matte antique black wood. Kitchen cabinets will be white shaker and counters will be white quartz with white Calacatta gold marble herringbone backsplash. Island and lower cabinets will be dark Ash grey (almost bluish black). I want to keep the space cozy, warm and inviting, but I do NOT want the walls to look like a “dirty white” in any shape or form. Also don’t want the space to be too dark. Do the colors I’ve chosen to decide upon for the walls play nice with red/black which is found often in my art/textiles? Should I be looking to a creamier off-white for the whole space to keep the place brighter? The kitchen and living room are east facing and there is a whole wall of windows so the room gets a fair amount of light. I read the comments about Collingwood and Balboa Mist bringing purple out and that scared me. Any advice you may have is welcome! Thank you so much!
Good morning Tonya. I love all the colours you have picked but I think the Revere Pewter will be too dark – especially for most of the interior. Both Balboa Mist and Collingwood would work well. If your rooms have a lot of light use the Collingwood as it is slightly darker – if they don’t then I would go for Balboa Mist. Since the other colours in your decor and surfaces are cooler (charcoal sectional, matte black fireplace, ash grey cabinets) I would stay away from the creamy colours. In some lighting conditions Balboa Mist can look taupe which I think some people mistake for “purple” but it is a lovely warm grey. If you’re still worried I would also try Benjamin Moore Classic Grey. It’s still warm but less taupe. Before you make a commitment try a sample of each on your walls. That’s the best way to tell. Have a great day!
Hi, I really love your blog and trust your judgment! Could you suggest a light gray that would work in a north facing family room/kitchen with honey oak cabinets and oak laminate floors? I can send you a picture. Thanks so much 🙂
Hello Lisa. Thank you for visiting. A picture would be great! You can email it to row@northrock.bm. Have a great day!
Great post! Currently trying to decide between Classic Grey and Collingwood for kitchen and living room. The living room has 22 ft vaulted ceilings with an abundance of natural light, interesting ceiling angles, floors are lighter bamboo. The kitchen is connected in an open concept space but with 9ft ceilings, black granite counter with cherry cabinets, and less natural light so a cozier feel in comparison. I was thinking classic grey for kitchen and collingwood for living room, but now I’m wondering if I should stick with one color. Also struggling with ceiling color. Should I use same color for both? Not sure which color would go best with these or if I should just use one color. The idea from our color consultant was to use collingwood on the walls in the living room with classic grey on the ceiling and then classic grey on walls and ceiling in the kitchen, is that strange or seem like a good direction to go? Trim will be Chantilly Lace. Apologies if this is scattered, currently holding a screaming baby 😫😰Thank you for any insights or advice!
Hello Kathleen. Thank you for your comment. Based on your description I would stick with one colour for both spaces. The interior will have better flow. Collingwood is a lovely colour but in some lights can have a blushy, almost pink undertone. I love the idea of a colour on the ceiling! If you choose Classic Gray I would cut the formula and get 50% lighter Classic Gray for the ceilings. That way they still compliment each other. Chantilliy Lace is a lovely colour for trim – great choice! PS. If you’re looking to make the large living room feel cozy take a look at Benjamin Moore Cumulus Clous 1550. It’s two shades darker than the Classic Gray but still on the same strip.
love your post…was curious on your thoughts of using Collingwood as an all over colour in a well light living room/kitchen with high ceilings. Our cabinets in our kitchen are silver satin. I want a grey that is darker and won’t be too dark…do you think Collingwood is a good choice?
Good morning Krista. Thank you for visiting. No – I don’t think Collingwood would be too dark in a large space especially if you have a lot of light. It will really warm up the space. What do you have on the floor? Collingwood can sometimes have the slightest blush’s undertone so I would try a sample before you decide to paint the entire space. Another great choice would be Benjamin Moore Harbor Gray AC-25. It has great depth and a little less blush. Have a great weekend!
Such a good post!
I’m currently painting my parent’s entire main level BM Collingwood.
We have one coat of BM Collingwood on and it looks beautiful in the kitchen and south-facing dining room but is pulling pretty blue in the living room. Her living room is small without a ton of natural light. Is there a color that is similar to Collingwood but pulls slightly warmer (and maybe lighter) to avoid the blue undertone?
My mom’s previous decor has a lot of dark brown, beige, and wine-red. She’s wanting to shift to a more modern palette over time so I thought Collingwood would be nice and versatile. Trim is a cream color.
Thank you!