Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull Paint Color Review

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Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull is one of my favorite soft, mid-toned green paint colors, which I recommend to clients, friends, and family. This muted green is subtle but not lacking color.

Today, I’m talking about Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull, a paint color I have used many times. I used this color often on furniture pieces I was restoring and also in clients’ homes.

WHAT COLOR IS BENJAMIN MOORE CAROLINA GULL 2138-40?

Carolina Gull is a mid-toned green paint color. This is a more versatile green because of the gray in it. It’s soft, muted, and not super colorful. Don’t get me wrong, the green is there, but it’s subdued. That is what makes this paint color very approachable.

STATS – HUE FAMILY, COLOR COLLECTIONS

Before I discuss my experiences using BM Carolina Gull, I want to share a few stats about the color.

1. HUE FAMILY – Green
2. COLOR COLLECTIONS – Color Preview®
3. LRV – 27.41

I think it’s extremely helpful to know what the hue family of a paint color is. It’s very advantageous because it allows you to understand the paint color on a more scientific level. It’s a factual piece of information that is not subjective or a guess. It’s also great to know because it allows you to understand what color it may shift to or show in certain qualities of light.

As for the color collection. this is not a super crucial thing to know. I personally like to see how a paint color is sorted in the collections. This is nothing more than a fun tidbit of information.

LRV OF BM CAROLINA GULL – LRV 27.41

Let’s start with LRV. What is it, and why does it help to know and understand?

LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, is a measurement commonly used by design professionals to measure the amount of light reflected from and absorbed by a surface. LRVs range from 0 to 100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being absolute black.

A great article to read to learn more about LRV is Light Reflectance Value: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

Basically, Carolina Gull has an LRV on the lower end of the scale. You can expect it not to reflect a ton of light.

Are you still conflicted with a paint color choice? Let me help. Request a quick paint color consultation with me by clicking HERE

IS CAROLINA GULL A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?

It’s considered a warm green paint color, and I can definitely attest to this. I have seen it painted on my client’s walls with my own eyes, and it does, in fact, look like a warm green color.

In my experience, I find it helpful to compare paint colors to help you discover its tone. The tone of a paint color is only relative to what you are comparing it to.

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES BENJAMIN MOORE CAROLINA GULL HAVE?

Here’s the million-dollar question everyone wants to know: What are the undertones? Luckily, Carolina Gull is an easy paint color to determine what colors you will see. And that is green.

Paint colors that are actual colors and not neutrals are much easier to understand.

Something to keep in mind about undertones is that they are subjective. It’s simply someone’s interpretation of a paint color in whatever lighting.

Undertones confuse the heck out of people. That’s why I always suggest that you sample any paint color you are considering. You need to see it with your own eyes in your home.

Follow these helpful painting tips and avoid these mistakes to get the job done right!

WHAT IS THE BEST TRIM PAINT COLOR FOR BENJAMIN MOORE CAROLINA GULL?

1. **Crisp White:** A bright white trim can create a clean and classic contrast, enhancing the cool tones of Carolina Gull.
2. **Soft Gray:** Choosing a lighter gray for trim can provide a cohesive and subtle transition, maintaining an elegant look.
3. **Charcoal:** If you prefer a bold contrast, a deep charcoal or black trim can add sophistication and drama to the color scheme.

HOW DOES CAROLINA GULL LOOK IN THE LIGHTING OF CARDINAL DIRECTIONS?

I have seen what light can do to paint colors. It’s amazing how influential lighting truly is in the way a paint color looks. And WIth Carolina Gull, it is no different.

Here’s what you can expect to see from BM Carolina Gull.

As I always say, with years of experience under my belt, I suggest sampling paint colors beforehand. Even if you are dead set on a paint color, the lighting may not be ideal for that paint color and your preferences.

DO THE LIGHT BLUBS YOU USE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY A PAINT COLOR LOOKS?

Just as natural light affects paint colors, so does artificial lighting.

The color of the light bulbs you use will influence how a room’s paint color looks. Unfortunately, this is an important detail that is often overlooked.

The variety of light bulbs available can become overwhelmingly confusing. I mean, what is the difference between soft white and bright white?

Learning a little about light bulbs can make the task easier.

For reference, light color or light appearance is measured on the Kelvin (K)temperature scale. Lower Kelvin numbers mean more yellow light; the higher the Kelvin number, the whiter or bluer light.

Remember, lower Kelvin (K) numbers = yellow light, Higher Kelvin (K) numbers = white/blueish light

I always recommend using this type of light bulb.

Be cautious of the light bulb names such as “daylight” or warm light.” I’d advise against picking a light bulb by its name.

Instead, always check the package for actual facts. This allows you to choose the best bulb for you.

Don’t forget that lighting plays a significant part in how a paint color will look at times. There are other determinants to be aware of. For instance, decor, furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, and floors. These are all elements that can affect and/or influence the way a paint color will look in your room.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE?

Sample Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull with Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples.

As someone who values the importance of choosing the right paint color for a room, I highly recommend testing and sampling various options.

This step in the painting process is often overlooked, but it can provide a concrete idea of how the color will appear in the space. Neglecting this step seems impractical to me.

WHERE TO USE BENJAMIN MOORE CAROLINA GULL

Do you know what I absolutely love about decorating and home decor? It’s that you can do it however you want!

If you want to paint your ceiling Carolina Gull, go for it. As long as you are happy with the way the paint color looks in your home, who’s stopping you? Maybe a husband or wife, but you get what I’m saying here. Do what makes you happy. This is what I tell my color consulting clients all the time.

That being said, I have some real-life photos and examples of places where you can use Carolina Gull in your home.

IS CAROLINA GULL A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Yes! It is a lovely paint color for the exterior.

I like Carolina Gull for the exterior because it has a good amount of depth and holds up well in direct sunlight. Some, like green paint colors like SW Sea Salt, have a hard time on the exterior. This is because since they are light, they tend to wash out and look almost white.

Another incredible thing about it is that it is an amazing paint color to pair with brick, which can be tricky to find paint colors for.

READ MORE: AMAZING GREEN PAINT COLORS FOR EXTERIORS

IS THERE A SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLOR EQUIVALENT?

I hate to break it to you, but there aren’t paint color equivalents. Sure, there are loads of paint colors that are practically identical, but there is still a slight difference between them.

That being said, there is one Sherwin Williams paint color that is similar to Carolina Gull. This is solely going off of the scientific facts about the color.

SW 9649 WILLOWLEAF – Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer Edition

SHOULD I COLOR MATCH?

I tend to be against color matching.

If you are considering color matching between brands, do it with a bit of caution.

Brands formulate paint colors differently. This means that if they mix a paint color that isn’t theirs, the result could be slightly off.

If you still want to take a chance, I highly recommend starting with a sample of the color to start. This way, you can see if the color is the same and if you like it.

WAIT! Before you start painting make sure you have the best painting tools to make your job easier. It will take hours off your painting time!

WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH CAROLINA GULL?

Creating paint color palettes or simply finding a complementary paint color can put people in a tizzy. And I totally get that. It’s tough.

A quick and easy way to find paint colors to create a harmonious and balanced color scheme is by using the color wheel. It won’t give you an exact paint color, but it can guide you in the right direction.

Since I know it can be a challenge to find coordinated paint colors, I have a few examples I found that will work with Carolina Gull. You can go with these colors or use them as a guide.

DOES CAROLINA GULL LOOK GOOD WITH HONEY OAK WOOD?

Yes, again. It’s a fantastic paint color for honey oak wood. The soft tones of Carolina Gull create a pleasing contrast and can enhance the warmth of the honey oak wood.

COLOR COMPARISONS

Let’s talk color comparisons!

I love comparing colors because it allows you to see the similarities and differences, obviously. It can also help you weed out paint colors you don’t like. It’s a huge help in choosing a paint color.

CAROLINA GULL VS EVERGREEN FOG

• Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog has an LRV of 30, a few steps higher than Carolina Gull’s 27.41
• Evergreen Fog is the lighter paint color of the two.
• Evergreen also has a bit more color to it.
• Both paint colors are fantastic, versatile green paint colors.

CAROLINA GULL VS RETREAT

• Sherwin Williams Retreat has an LRV of 21, which is lower than Carolina Gulls’s 27.41.
• Retreat is the darker paint color of the two.
• SW Retreat is also a bit more grayed down.
• These are two similar paint colors. If you like one, you potentially will like the other.

RECAP – BENJAMIN MOORE CAROLINA GULL PAINT COLOR REVIEW

My paint color reviews tend to be long-winded and full of information and my own experiences with the paint color. With that, I would like to add a brief recap toward the end to refresh your memory on everything that I went over.

• LRV – 27.41
• HUE FAMILY – Green
• COLOR COLLECTIONS – Color Preview®
• it’s considered a warm toned paint color
• Subjectively, it has green and gray undertones.
• It’s a soft, muted, mid-toned green.
• It looks fantastic with a crisp white trim paint color but also with a soft gray or charcoal color.
• North and East sunlight will bring out the cool tones in the color
• South and West sunlight is warm and will enhance the warm tones
• Use Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples to test the paint color.
• It can be used anywhere, but it looks particularly good on kitchen cabinets and the exterior.
• the closest Sherwin Williams color match is Willowleaf SW 9649
• A few examples of paint colors that complement Carolina Gull are BM Soft Chamois, BM Gray Wisp, and BM White Dove.
• It’s an excellent paint color to pair with light, dark, and honey oak wood.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Green paint colors are trending hard for 2024. A green-gray paint color is such a versatile color to work with and incorporate into your home.

What can I say? I’m both feet in for Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull. It’s a gorgeous, soft, muted color. It’s bold, but not too bold. It packs a punch in the most subtle way possible.

If you are a fan of green and want to hop on the green trend, I suggest giving Carolina Gull a sample. I’m telling you you won’t be disappointed.

Are you still conflicted with a paint color choice? Let me help. Request a quick paint color consultation with me by clicking HERE

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PAINT COLORS

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