Benjamin Moore colour guide
240 colours made with 5 to 7 pigments each and no black or grey, so they shift beautifully as the light changes. Here's how to choose, from the team that mixes them every day.
How to choose
Colour Stories are built to change with the light. That's the magic, and it's also why testing matters more here than anywhere.
These colours are designed to reveal different undertones in different light. A neutral can read warm at noon and cool at dusk.
Colour Stories are made only in select premium interior paints, like Aura. They aren't available for exterior projects.
Light reflectance runs from 0 (black) to 100. Around 55 and up suits main walls; under 20 is a deep colour for accents and cabinets.
Shortlist with swatches, then paint a large tester patch and look at it morning, afternoon and evening before you commit.
Start here
Pick the group that suits your room. Tap any colour to get its free swatch.
Soft colours with hidden depth. Watch them shift between warm and cool through the day.
Greiges, taupes and charcoals with a richer, more complex feel.
From airy, sky-like blues to deep teal and sage.
Saturated, full-spectrum colours for statement walls and rooms.
Our top 8
Our picks from across the collection, from nuanced neutrals to bold colour, with Benjamin Moore's own coordinating colour picks. Order a free swatch, or go straight to a tester if you're already down to one or two.
LRV 60.22
Benjamin Moore describes it as a light grey, a faint blue or a silver-white, depending on how you look at it. The perfect example of how this collection changes with the light.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 61.09
A nuanced neutral that sits between warm and cool. An easy whole-house colour with more depth than a typical greige.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 72.52
A soft, powdery off-white with real depth, like plaster or a classic statue. Lovely on walls where a plain white feels flat.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 89.63
A bright, clean white with a whisper of warmth, and on Benjamin Moore's list of trending yellows. Great for walls, ceilings and trim.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 59
A soft, airy blue that Benjamin Moore compares to a bird's egg. It's the colour they use to show off this collection, and it changes beautifully through the day.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 14.04
A deep, warm charcoal-brown with a moody, enveloping feel. Rich in dining rooms, libraries and on built-ins.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 9.7
A deep, earthy green with a fresh edge. Dramatic on cabinetry, panelling and accent walls.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV 26.21
A cheerful, carrot-bright orange for when you want colour that really pops. Fun in kids' rooms, entries and on a statement wall.
Benjamin Moore pairs it with
LRV and coordinating colours are from Benjamin Moore. Colours on screen are a guide only. More colour guides →
Why they look different
Pigment details are from Benjamin Moore.
When a swatch isn't enough
Colour Stories change more with the light than any other collection. A tester pot lets you paint a real patch and watch it from morning to night.
Shortlist with free swatchesOrder up to 10 and compare them against your floors, counters and trim.
Test your top one or twoPaint a patch about 2 ft square on two walls, two coats.
Check it all dayLook in morning, afternoon and evening light before you buy the gallons.
Paint tester
A 240 ml (8 oz) pot of real Benjamin Moore paint, tinted to any Colour Stories colour. Enough for a good-sized test patch. Custom tinted, so it can't be returned.
Questions
It's a collection of 240 colours, numbered CSP-5 to CSP-1200, designed to respond to light. Benjamin Moore says each colour takes on a different appearance as the light in a room changes, bringing out subtle undertones. The range runs from soft pales and neutrals to saturated, bold colours.
The formula. Benjamin Moore says traditional colours use 2 to 3 pigments, while each Colour Stories colour blends about 5 to 7, and none use black or grey colourants. That's what gives them their depth and the way they shift through the day.
Benjamin Moore makes Colour Stories only in select premium interior paints, such as Aura. They aren't available for exterior use. Ask us which products and sheens are available for the colour you've chosen.
Yes. Benjamin Moore offers its colour samples in Colour Stories colours, and our $6.99 tester can be tinted to any of them. It's the best way to see how the colour changes in your light before you buy the paint.
It's designed to. Colour Stories colours respond strongly to light, so the same wall can look warmer, cooler, lighter or deeper from morning to evening. Look at your test patch at several times of day before deciding.
LRV (light reflectance value) measures how much light a colour reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (pure white). Colour Stories run from about 5 to 90. Around 55 and up suits most main walls; under 20 is a deep colour best for accents, cabinets or a cozy room.
Yes. The Aura Colour Stories fan deck has all 240 colours in one deck, which is handy for designers or if you're choosing colours for a whole house.
Yes. Benjamin Moore colour swatches are free, up to 10 per order. You only pay shipping, which is calculated at checkout.
Browse all 240 Colour Stories and order up to 10 free swatches. You only pay shipping.
