Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore (OC-20) is the most popular greige paint color in modern interiors. Pale oak blends the warmth of beige and coziness of gray make it perfect for your traditional and modern home.
Let’s understand the LRV ” its the light reflection value, means if the lrv is higher the color is light , and if the lrv is low, the color is dark. So the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of pale oak is 68.64, it’s light enough to brighten a space without appearing stark, while its gentle taupe-pink undertone adds just the right amount of depth and warmth.
What are the undertones of Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore describes Pale Oak as a “versatile neutral” with warm gray undertones. In practice, it reads as a light greige or taupe – a soft beige-leaning gray.
Its LRV is about 68.6, its higher so making it a bright, neutral wall color (light enough to sometimes appear nearly white). Despite its “warm” label, Pale Oak has a subtle purple-pink feel lurking under its beige tone.
In north-facing or diffuse light it often looks like a gentle warm gray. In strong southern or western light, the warmer taupe/beige side of Pale Oak comes out more, and its pinky undertone may show up slightly.
In short, Pale Oak is a soft, cozy taupe: warmer than true gray but not yellow, with just a hint of rosy/purplish warmth.
What are the Lighting Effects of Pale Oak
Because its LRV is high like 68 something,make it brighter in full bright sunshine, room for a small spaces its bit darker.
For this home, I used bright color palette with pale oak with a touch of natural elements like stone fireplace and beam roofing with wooden accents. Also I used pure white by Sherwin-Williams for accents.
Coordinating Colors and Trim
Pale Oak pairs best with other soft neutrals and muted earth tones. Suggested palettes include:
Coordinating Colors of Pale oak with Benjamin Moore colors
For the selves with pale oak color ,I used marble touch ,my client wanted to add some natural elements with sleek modern touch in farmhouse ,it was basically a mixture of modern + sleek + farmhouse style.So ,do you think I did well? Tell me in comments.
Trim / Ceiling Whites:
- Chantilly Lace (OC-65) – A crisp, clean, bright white with no strong undertones. Perfect for trim and ceilings to contrast Pale Oak.
- White Dove (OC-17) – A soft, warm white with creamy undertones. Great if you want a gentler transition from Pale Oak.
- Simply White (OC-117) – Slightly warmer and more luminous than Chantilly Lace; works in sunny rooms.
Soft Neutrals & Taupes:
- Balboa Mist (OC-27) – A slightly grayer, deeper warm gray with a violet undertone—makes a great adjoining room color.
- Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) – A warmer greige, less pink than Pale Oak but in the same family.
- Classic Gray (OC-23) – Lighter and airier than Pale Oak, beautiful in open-concept homes for contrast.
- Abalone (2108-60) – Deeper taupe with slight lavender-violet influence for more dramatic contrast.
Accent Colors:
- Smoked Oyster (2109-40) – A mauve-gray with a rich undertone; plays up Pale Oak’s warmth for contrast.
- Revere Pewter (HC-172) – A medium warm greige for depth on cabinetry or feature walls.
- Pashmina (AF-100) – A muddy taupe-beige that deepens and warms up Pale Oak pairings.
- Hale Navy (HC-154) – Classic navy that contrasts beautifully with Pale Oak on built-ins or exterior shutters.
Blues / Greens (Soft & Muted):
- Boothbay Gray (HC-165) – A muted blue-gray that contrasts subtly with Pale Oak.
- Quiet Moments (1563) – A peaceful green-blue-gray that pairs well in bedrooms or bathrooms.
- Silver Marlin (2139-50) – Soft sage-gray, perfect for pairing with Pale Oak without overwhelming it.
Coordinating Colors of Pale oak with Sherwin-Williams Alternatives
If you’re using Sherwin-Williams alongside or instead of Benjamin Moore, here are compatible shades:
Whites for Trim/Ceiling:
- Pure White (SW 7005) – Clean, balanced white (not too warm or stark).
- Snowbound (SW 7004) – A warm soft white that doesn’t clash with Pale Oak’s undertone.
- Alabaster (SW 7008) – A creamy white that complements Pale Oak’s warmth when you want a softer blend.
Neutral Walls or Adjoining Rooms:
- Egret White (SW 7570) – One of the closest Sherwin-Williams matches to Pale Oak; great for adjacent spaces.
- Anew Gray (SW 7030) – A deeper greige; pairs well for grounding features like an accent wall or hallway.
- Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) – A flexible warm greige with soft undertones that harmonizes with Pale Oak.
Accent & Contrast Colors:
- Dried Thyme (SW 6186) – Earthy green-gray that brings out Pale Oak’s warmth.
- Naval (SW 6244) – Deep navy for dramatic accents or cabinetry.
- Ethereal Mood (SW 7639) – A subtle green-gray with soft depth—beautiful in bedrooms.
Benjamin Moore pale oak kitchen cabinets
Comparison of similar colors
Pale Oak vs. Classic Gray
| Attribute | Pale Oak (BM OC-20) | Classic Gray (BM OC-23) |
|---|---|---|
| Undertone | Warm gray-taupe with soft purple-pink | Very pale warm gray with subtle violet-pink |
| LRV | 68.64 | 73.67 |
| Feels Like | Cozy, soft greige; warmer and more grounded | Airy, feather-light gray; cooler and brighter |
Pale Oak vs. Alabaster
| Attribute | Pale Oak (BM OC-20) | Alabaster (SW 7008) |
|---|---|---|
| Undertone | Warm greige with subtle purple-pink | Creamy white with balanced beige-gray |
| LRV | 68.64 | 82 |
| Feels Like | Taupe and grounded; visible color on walls | Soft, clean white; bright and airy feel |
Pale Oak vs. Balboa Mist
| Attribute | Pale Oak (BM OC-20) | Balboa Mist (BM OC-27) |
|---|---|---|
| Undertone | Warm gray-taupe with purple/pink cast | Warm gray-beige with soft violet lean |
| LRV | 68.64 | 65.53 |
| Feels Like | Soft, cozy, slightly pinker and lighter | More neutral, slightly cooler and grayer |
Pale Oak vs Edgecomb Gray
| Attribute | Pale Oak (OC-20) | Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) |
|---|---|---|
| Undertone | Warm taupe-gray with soft purple-pink | Warm greige with beige/green undertones |
| LRV | 68.64 | 63.09 |
| Feels Like | Soft, airy, and muted with a slight rosy hue; cozy and subtle | Earthier and more grounded; warmer and slightly more beige; reads more traditional |
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak Sherwin-Williams equivalent
An exact match to Pale Oak in Sherwin-Williams does not exist, but a few SW neutrals come close:
SW Limewash (Pore 7674) – Often cited as the closest SW match. Limewash is a warm greige with taupe undertones very similar to Pale Oak. It is part of the Emerald Designer Edition. In fact, one design expert states that Limewash is “the closest Sherwin paint color to Pale Oak,” noting that Pale Oak is very slightly cooler. Limewash tends to be a touch warmer, so in cool light Pale Oak may look slightly grayer.
SW Egret White (SW 7022) – A popular warm gray-white (LRV ~70). Egret White has a taupe base but can flash more pink when paired with yellowish neutrals. Designers say Egret White is about as close as you’ll get to Pale Oak in the SW line. The difference is subtle: Egret White often reads lighter and can show a rosy bias, whereas Pale Oak tends to be a more stable mid-tone greige.
SW Oat Milk (SW 9501) – A newer warm greige (LRV ~70). Oat Milk behaves similarly to Pale Oak in being a creamy taupe, but it has its own “sneaky undertone.” It often shows a hint of greenish tint depending on lighting. Its LRV (~69-70%) is very close to Pale Oak’s. In practice, Oat Milk feels more “beige” or olive-tinged compared to Pale Oak’s pinky taupe.
