Whether you’re going for moody or peaceful, dark blue can get the job done. It’s one of my favorite colors for a bedroom (what’s cozier than feeling like you’re sleeping under the night sky?), and it creates a dramatic statement with everything from kitchen cabinets to living room built-ins.
But because blue is cool-toned and often mixed with gray, it can sometimes appear a little too gray and lifeless. So here are my top five Benjamin Moore dark blue interior paint colors, including advice on where to use them for the true blue to shine through.
Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray
Let’s kick things off with one of my favorite sophisticated teals, BM Gentleman’s Gray. And yes, I know gray is in the name, but if anything, I feel like the undertone is black. This color has a really nice saturation and richness of pigment. It’s bold but doesn’t slap you in the face with TEAL. And with a Light Reflective Value (LRV) of just 7.26, this is a deep dark stormy sea of a color. I would suggest using this color in a room that gets more sunlight where the pigment can really shine.
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
I couldn’t make this list without including Benjamin Moore’s most popular blue, Hale Navy. This is a deep dark maritime blue with an LRV of just 8.36. It’s a classic dark navy with a cool gray undertone, so keep in mind that the dark blue pigment shines most in rooms where it gets more sunlight. For that reason, it’s an excellent blue exterior paint. In shadier spots, it may lean more charcoal, which can also be beautiful. If you’re a blue purist who doesn’t like much green in your blues, this is a classic option for you.
Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue
If you like the idea of a dark true blue but aren’t willing to go as dark as BM Hale Navy, then BM Newburyport Blue may be perfect for you. With an LRV of 10.31, this dark blue is slightly lighter and more pigmented, and it would look perfect on built-ins or drenching an entire moody room. Remember that if you love a color but want it to appear a bit lighter, especially in sunlight, you can always buy it in a higher sheen. The shinier the paint, the more light it reflects and the lighter the color appears.
Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue
One more step up in the lightness department is BM Van Deusen Blue. With an LRV of 11.97, it reflects the most light of all of the dark blues in this list. You can really see the impact of that in the kitchen above, where the color almost looks like a medium slate blue in direct sunlight but still a true dark blue in the shadows. BM Van Deusen Blue fits well in traditional spaces, but I feel like it’s fresh enough to work in more modern rooms as well.
Benjamin Moore Newburg Green
Alright, bear with me, I know the name has “green” in it, but paint color names are funny like that sometimes. Especially Farrow & Ball paint color names. If you know, you know. Heck, even Benjamin Moore also labels this color as “New Providence Navy.” But in my opinion, BM Newburg Green is a really lovely dark teal. It has enough green to not appear too gray in low light, and the teal really shines in direct sunlight without feeling over the top. With an LRV of 10.58, this is the greener cousin of BM Newburyport Blue and lends the perfect moodiness to traditional and modern spaces.
I hope this guide was helpful to you as you search for your perfect dark blue paint color! For more free color suggestions, check out the rest of my favorite paint colors.
