ScandinavianUniversal

Smoke

Benjamin Moore · 2122-40

The Analysis

Smoke acts as a mid-tone blue-gray that stabilizes a room without making it feel enclosed. With an LRV of 55.96, it reflects a moderate amount of light, preventing the space from feeling cavernous while still providing enough depth to keep the room from looking washed out.

Smoke is a versatile neutral that serves best as a primary wall color for living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices. It works well as a backdrop for both bold furniture and art, bridging the gap between a traditional neutral and a colored wall.

LRV 56

History & Origin

This is a modern, transitional shade rather than a period-specific one. It fits seamlessly into contemporary renovations that prioritize a clean, uncluttered look over ornate historical schemes.

Undertoneneutral
FamilyTeal

How to Use It

Pair this with light oak or walnut wood tones to warm up the cool undertones, and use matte black hardware for a sharp, modern contrast. It performs best in rooms with balanced natural light, as it avoids turning too icy or too muddy.

The Mood

This color is distinctly restful and low-stress. Because it balances the coolness of blue with the neutrality of gray, it functions as a calm, steady background that doesn't demand your attention, making it ideal for spaces where you want to wind down.

Colour harmonies

Complementary

Opposite on the colour wheel — bold, high-contrast pairings. Use for a feature wall or furniture you want to command attention.

Analogous

Neighbouring hues — cohesive and calm, great for layered schemes that feel collected rather than matched.

Split complementary

Near-opposites for strong contrast with a little less tension than a pure complement. A favourite of interior designers.

Triadic

Three evenly spaced hues — balanced, vibrant, and versatile. Keep one dominant and use the others sparingly.

Tetradic (square)

Four hues in a square on the wheel — rich, dynamic palettes. Best when one colour leads and the others accent.

Monochromatic

Dark, mid, and light steps on the same hue — a failsafe gradient for trim, walls, and accents without shifting colour family.

Brand Matches

Perceptually similar colours from across all brands in our database.

  • Degas Blue

    Valspar · 8004-35B

  • Soft Wave®

    Crown Paints

  • NORDIC BREEZE

    Jotun · 5452

  • Whirlwind 0489

    Colourtrend

  • Urban Raincoat

    Behr · N440-2

  • Sleepy Blue

    Sherwin-Williams · SW6225

Lighting

See how this colour shifts across natural and artificial light conditions.

  • Natural
  • Morning
  • Afternoon
  • Evening
  • Overcast
  • 2700K
  • 3500K
  • 4000K
  • 5500K