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Edgecomb Gray HC-173 is one of the most popular neutral paint colors by Benjamin Moore. This soft and timeless neutral balances between gray and beige, which makes it an optimal greige paint color.
I like picking apart the most popular paint colors—not in a bad way, though. More so, I like to see what makes them so popular. I can’t help it. It’s the curiosity in me.
I went back and forth, trying to decide on what paint color to investigate for this post. I was contemplating a bold and bright color. Yet, when a customer requested a very popular neutral paint color, I simply and utterly could not resist going for it.
Today’s target is the one the only Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.
WHAT COLOR IS EDGECOMB GRAY?
Edgecomb Gray is a soft and airy gray paint color that has a bit of beige in it. It teeters between gray and beige, which makes it an excellent greige paint color. Depending on the lighting situation, it can lean either more gray or beige. You can even consider it to be almost a putty color with a touch of creaminess to it.
This is a great paint color to use if you want to update your space and have a lot of beige-colored furniture. It works well because of the balance of gray and beige it has in it.
It also tends to look grayer in natural light and more beige in rooms without much natural sunlight.
Benjamin Moore describes it as
“A go-to gray that’s timeless with a modern edge, this earthy, organic neutral is soft and stylish, creating a setting that feels distinctly personal“
Benjamin Moore
And I think that description is spot on.
To sum it up, Edgecomb Gray is, in fact, a GRAY paint color. But with some added bells and whistles to it.
Oh yes, Edgecomb Gray is a crowd-pleaser. I mean, it’s one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular and best-selling paint colors. But why is it so popular and loved?
At first glance, Edgecomb looks like the perfect neutral paint color. But don’t be fooled, like every neutral paint color, there are undertones that may sneak up and give you a scare. You know how those undertones are, sneaky little buggers.
WHAT IS THE LRV OF EDGECOMB GRAY?
Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63.88. What is LRV or Light Reflectance Value? It’s the percentage of light that is reflected from a surface. LRVs range from 0-100, 0 being the darkest at black, and 100 being the lightest at white.
An LRV of 63.88 is excellent and means Edgecomb will be reflecting a good amount of light.
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EDGECOMB GRAY UNDERTONES
BM Edgecomb Gray has green-gray undertones. I know what you are thinking, green? Yup, green-gray undertones. Now, that doesn’t mean if you choose it as your wall color it’s going to look green.
All gray paint colors have blue, green, or violet undertones in them and Edgecomb happens to have green undertones. A good way to think of green-grays is to picture cultured stone or the color of concrete.
So, depending on the lighting in the space, the colors of your furniture, and the colors of the fixed elements in the room, the undertones can make themselves present.
If you are having a hard time with the undertone, the best way to see it is by using a product like Samplize- Peel & Stick Paint Samples or painting it on a white poster board and bringing it in your home. The color you see on the computer screen is usually not true to color. This is why sampling is so important.
If you want, compare Edgecomb Gray’s green-gray undertones to Balboa Mist’s violet-gray undertones. This will help you see the different undertones of the two colors.
Overall, Edgecomb stays fairly neutral.
IS EDGECOMB GRAY A WARM OR COOL COLOR?
Edgecomb Gray is considered a warm gray.
If you place it side by side with another paint color, depending on the color you are comparing it to, it can either look more or less warm than the opposing color.
Here’s a good example of how Edgecomb looks like a warm gray paint color when compared to a cool gray paint color like SW Light French Gray.
Here is a great example of how it can look like a cool paint color when compared to a warmer color such as Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige.
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IS EDGECOMB TOO LIGHT?
This question all depends on what you are asking it is too light for and what your opinion of too light is. For example, Edgecomb Gray is lighter than Revere Pewter, but it is also darker than Glacier White.
In darker rooms or hallways that get little to no light, it tends to look quite dark and dull.
I think it is the perfect warm shade of gray, not too light and not too dark.
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WHERE CAN YOU USE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173
Anywhere! The beauty of this warm gray paint color is that it’s so versatile that it can be used just about anywhere. Some places it can be used:
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Exterior
- Living Room
- Basement
- Cabinets
- Trim
- Ceilings
There are so many opportunities throughout the home to use this functional gray paint color.
USE EDGECOMB GRAY IN THE KITCHEN AND ON KITCHEN CABINETS
The kitchen is the perfect place to use Edgecomb Gray. This warm gray will provide a neutral backdrop, allowing you to bring in color elsewhere.
This goes for using it on either the kitchen cabinets or walls.
Using Benjamin Moore Edgecomb on kitchen cabinets is a fantastic option when you want a paint color to help update some of the “Tuscan Finishes” in the space. It’s a great greige to bridge the gap between old and updated.
If you are considering painting your kitchen cabinets yourself, read this first!
USE BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB IN THE BEDROOM
A bedroom painted in Edgecomb Gray HC-173 will provide a neutral backdrop for the room. Neutrals paint colors like Edgecomb, allowing you to add color in other places. For instance, textiles and artwork.
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USE BM EDGECOMB GRAY ON THE EXTERIOR
You can certainly paint the exterior of your home in Edgecomb Gray. It will, however, come off much lighter than it does indoors. Unmistakably, because of the direct sunlight, it is getting. Nonetheless, it is still a fantastic option for the exterior, especially if you are looking for a neutral paint color other than white.
COLORS SIMILAR TO EDGECOMB GRAY
When deep-diving into a paint color, I always like to find similar colors to the one I’m exploring. In the particular case of Edgecomb Gray, I have come across a few comparable paint colors. Keep in mind these colors are not exact matches, they are simply paint colors with similar tones.
- Modern Gray – Sherwin Williams
- Worldly Gray – Sherwin Williams
- Elmira White – Benjamin Moore
- Alaskan Skies – Benjamin Moore
- Nature’s Essentials – Benjamin Moore
COORDINATING COLORS
Choosing the right paint color is a challenge in itself. Many people get stumped when they have to find a paint color to coordinate it with.
Being that Edgecomb Gray is so delightfully neutral, it coordinates well with many different colors. Below are some fantastic paint colors to pair this versatile neutral gray with.
- White Dove
- White Chocolate
- Nickel
- Revere Pewter
- Chelsea Gray
- Swiss Coffee
- River Reflections
- Simply White
- Hale Navy
- Kendall Charcoal
- Chantilly Lace
READ MOORE: USE ONE OF THESE WHITE PAINT COLORS ON YOUR TRIM
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The best way to see a color and its undertones is by comparing it to another color. Below are a few color comparisons to give you a better idea of what color Edgecomb Gray is and how it compares to other colors.
EDGECOMB GRAY VS REVERE PEWTER
To start the comparison, let’s take another extremely popular Benjamin Moore paint color, Revere Pewter. Many times, Revere Pewter is thought to be very similar but just a shade darker. Let’s see if that’s true.
- Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55.51, which is slightly lower than Edgecomb’s 66.88.
- Revere Pewter is darker
- Both paint colors have a green-gray undertone.
- Both paint colors have an earthy and natural feel to them.
- Both colors complement one another beautifully.
EDGECOMB GRAY VS ACCESSIBLE BEIGE
This is another pairing that often comes up with clients. Everyone always wants to see how Edgecomb Gray vs. Accessible Beige SW 7036 compares.
- Accessible Beige is more warm-toned.
- The LRV of Accessible Beige is 58, which is slightly lower than Edgecomb Gray’s 63.88.
- Accessible Beige is more of a beige color with gray undertones.
- EG has green-gray undertones in it.
- Comparing these two colors side by side, you can see that Accessible Beige’s name is pretty accurate. The beige is really showing through.
CLAY BEIGE VS EDGECOMB GRAY
Now let’s compare Clay Beige vs Edgecomb gray
- Clay Beige has an LRV: of 62.87, very close to EG’s LRV of 63.88
- Edgecomb has green-gray undertones
- Clay Beige has undertones that are more greige. (gray and beige)
- Clay Beige is warmer.
- Both have a neutral creaminess to them
MANCHESTER TAN VS EDGECOMB GRAY
Finally, I want to compare Manchester Tan and EG
- Manchester Tan has an LRV of 64.41, very close to EG’s LRV of 63.88
- EG is not as warm as Manchester Tan
- Manchester Tan has green-beige undertones.
- Edgecomb has green-gray undertones.
- Manchester Tan has more beige in it.
READ MORE: BM MANCHESTER TAN FULL PAINT COLOR REVIEW
BEST TRIM COLOR FOR EDGECOMB GRAY
Most of the time, the trim is painted white. However, not all white paint colors are created equal. Some white colors are warmer, some cooler. Choosing the right white trim color depends on the wall color.
Using Benjamin Moore White Dove as the trim color for EG is ideal because it’s an off-white, not stark white.
COLOR RECAP
Let’s go through a quick run-down of what we learned.
- It’s a soft neutral gray paint color
- LRV of 66.88
- It can also be considered a greige.
- The undertones are green-gray.
- This neutral gray looks lovely with many different colors, including Revere Pewter and Chelsea Gray.
- This versatile greige color can be used anywhere: kitchen cabinets, living rooms, bedrooms, exteriors, etc.
- It’s one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular and best-selling paint colors
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I think Edgecomb Gray is an amazing color. It works well with many different design styles making it so versatile and appealing to many different people.
Does it deserve to be one of the most popular Benjamin Moore Paint colors?
Absolutely!
It’s a near-perfect shade of gray with a pleasant undertone. This paint color works just about everywhere. If you are looking for a beautifully soft greige paint color, it’s worth considering.
Finally, remember to avoid a major painting mistake and swatch your paint colors!
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I’m Cate. As a seasoned paint color consultant and former proprietor of the highly regarded painting company WOW 1 Day Painting in Bergen County, my journey in the world of design and home improvement has been a colorful one, quite literally. Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Northern New Jersey, I’ve cultivated a passion for transforming spaces through the power of paint, furniture restoration, and thoughtful home decor.
Gabriela E
Thursday 27th of January 2022
I painted my whole inside EG with trim and doors in White Dove. Now I feel my house is too light (bright) since I used to have Tuscan inspired green & golds. I still have travertine floor and tropical brown granite in kitchen. I was planning on White Dove on kitchen cabinets too - but now rethinking color and wondering if I can add “color” on cabinets and island. OR should I stick with white dove cabinets and island. I like the idea of SW Iron Ore or Seal Skin for island if I paint cabinets WD. Tropical brown granite is a tough cookie to pair with. Thank you for your time and feedback. Gabriela
Janice
Saturday 23rd of October 2021
Hello. This is the only post where I can see Edgecomb with Shaker Beige. I have Shaker Beige in my living room dining room hallways and front entry. I just painted Rockport Gray as the accent wall but do not like it with the Shaker Beige. It is more green gray and I wanted something like you show in the post. It was Alexandria Beige which was nice but wanted to go with something lighter but Rockport is very dark at times. Do you think if I painted the accent wall Edgecomb it may work with Shaker Beige. Thanks so much.
Meredith
Saturday 10th of July 2021
Thank you for such a detailed explanation! We moved in a new to us home about 6 months ago. We refinished the red oak floors a mix of provincial and Jacobean. We painted all of the trim SW pure white and majority of the interior SW agreeable gray. I’m regretting my choice because the wall color pulls a bit purple. Our houses faces north and we have a lot of windows on the front and back with a lot of trees in the back. Do you think edgecomb gray would be a better option?
Dianna
Saturday 13th of February 2021
Very informative and have a better understanding of the color from your review. I am deciding to paint a couple of bedrooms including a bathroom with Edgecomb Gray. However, the house was built in the 70s, and it still has all the reddish oak trim. This includes the trim, thresholds, doors, door frames and baseboards. Have not decided on painting trim work yet as it is a lot of work. Would EG go with this type woodwork? Ive been reading about BM Gentle Cream as well.
Sunnie Adams
Thursday 22nd of October 2020
Thanks so much for your thorough review!