Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52 - Full Review

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Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore is a highly popular gray paint color. It is on Benjamin Moore’s Most Popular Paint Colors list, and for good reason. Gray Owl is a super versatile crowd-pleaser.

Welcome to another episode of Cate goes on and on about paint colors. You all know I just cannot help myself.

Today’s color is a great one. It is an absolute stunner. However, it is sometimes not what you were expecting.

I know it’s fun to explore pictures of a paint color you see online. You see a color in someone else’s home, it looks great, and you are sold. Believe me, I know it’s easy to get sucked into all the pretty pictures on Instagram and Pinterest but don’t run out and order that paint color without testing it in your home!

I’ll explain why testing and sampling paint colors are so important later. The moral of this story is to never buy a paint color you see online without testing it in your home first.

Ok, now that I think I have made my point, let’s talk about today’s super fabulous paint color.

Please stand for the one, the only Benjamin Moore Gray Owl.

TRY A SAMPLIZE SAMPLE OF GRAY OWL

WHAT COLOR IS GRAY OWL?

Guess what? Benjamin Moore Gray Owl is a gray paint color. I know, you knew that already. But to elaborate a little bit, Gray Owl is more of a mid to light neutral gray. If I had to guess, Benjamin Moore named this color after the Great Gray Owl. The paint color is reminiscent of the coloring of the Owl itself.

I decided to look up the coloring of the Great Gray Owl, and this is what I found according to allaboutbirds.org.

Great Gray Owls are silvery gray overall—patterned with fine white, gray, and brown streaking and faint barring. Their yellow eyes shine through the fine gray-and-brown concentric circles of the facial disk. Two pale arcs form an “X” between the eyes. Across the neck sits a white “bow tie” marking with a black center. Their bill, if visible, is yellow. Males and females look similar.
allaboutbirds.org

And I bet you thought we’d only be learning about the paint color Gray Owl, not the bird, too. Getting back to what color BM Gray Owl is, In a balanced state of light, it can be described as a clean and crisp mid-tone gray with flashes of green.

WHAT IS THE LRV OF GRAY OWL?

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl has an LRV of 65.77, which is good for reflecting a decent amount of light.

For those of you new around here LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, is a measurement commonly used by design professionals that measures the amount of light reflected from and absorbed by a surface. LRVs range from 0 -100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being absolute black.

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WHAT UNDERTONES DOES BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL HAVE?

BM Gray Owl has blue and green undertones. Depending on the elements and lighting in the room you are painting, you may see one or the other or even both. I have seen it with both blue and green undertones showing through. Sometimes, the undertones can be very subtle, and other times, they can be full-on present.

In my experience, I have seen a strong green undertone come through in North-facing rooms with little natural light.

READ MORE: THE BEST GREEN PAINT COLORS

IS GRAY OWL A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?

Here is where things can get a bit confusing. Some people consider Gray Owl to be a warm gray paint color, and others say it’s a cool gray. I say it all depends. I know that’s probably not the answer you wanted to hear.

If you were to look at Gray Owl in the Benjamin Moore Paint Deck, you would most likely think that it looks like a fabulous neutral gray with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones. However, as you know, paint colors look very different once you put them on the walls of your space.

So one person may paint Gray Owl in their room and see it as a neutral gray whereas another person may paint it in their room and see it as a cool gray with blue undertones coming through.

That’s why I say it depends. You have to factor in everything about the room you are painting, and you have to test your paint colors.

Like Cool-Toned Paint Colors? Check These Out!

DOES BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL LOOK BLUE

It has the potential to look blue at times. Most often, I have seen Gray Owl look a greenish blue in rooms with cool North-facing lights. I have also noticed that lighting plays a big role in how this color looks. But also the elements in your space have an influence.

For example, if you have a green carpet in a north-facing room, you will most likely see its green undertones.

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GRAY OWL OC-52 AND LIGHTING

Lighting is one of the main factors contributing to how a paint color will look. It can virtually change the appearance of any color, which is a big deal when you are trying to choose the right paint color. So, it’s best you are familiar with the lighting situation of the room you are finding a paint color for.

North-facing rooms – North-facing rooms tend to have light that comes off cooler and even somewhat blueish in tone. Paint colors that are on the lighter side will appear a bit muted, whereas bolder dark colors will pop and embrace that cooler light. You can expect Gray Owl to show its blue/green undertones in north-facing rooms.

South-facing rooms– In South facing rooms, there tends to be a consistent warm light throughout the day. Warm and cool tones work nicely with south-facing light. This light intensifies colors, so darker colors will seem brighter while, softer colors will look like they are gleaming. South facing light tends to be most desirable.

West-facing rooms- Light is cooler in the morning and warmer or brighter in the afternoon/ early evening. Early evening is when West-facing rooms have the best light. Warmer tones might seem overwhelming because of the red-orange the light gives off. However, if the main use for the room is in the mornings, the colors won’t appear as intense because of that cooler light. BM Gray Owl will look on the cooler side in the mornings in a west-facing room.

East-facing rooms– Light is warmer or brighter in the mornings and cooler in the afternoon/evenings. An East facing room’s bright morning light is more yellow-orange toned. Going with a warm palette will help balance the lack of natural light in the evening. Benjamin Moore Gray Owl will look will show cooler in the evening in an east-facing room.

Let’s not forget about artificial lighting! The color of your light bulbs will also influence how your paint color will look.

Check out my favorite light bulbs to use with Gray Owl.

As much as lighting plays a major part in how a paint color can sometimes look, there are other factors you simply cannot forget about.

For example, the color of your decor, furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, and floors. These are all elements that can affect the way a paint color will look in your room.

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WHERE SHOULD YOU USE BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL?

You can use Gray Owl anywhere. There are no rules here! It is such a beautiful, crisp, clean gray that it looks good in so many different applications.

Try using it on cabinets, walls, trim, you name it, you paint it.

Seriously, though, it’s such a great paint color that it works anywhere. That said, you still have to test the color in the space you want to paint before using it to make sure you like it.

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room with gray walls and wood floors — via Griffing Kitchens & Interiors

Kitchen
Bathroom
Exterior
Office
Living Room
Basement
Cabinets
Trim
Ceilings

IN THE BEDROOM

BM Gray Owl is a great paint color choice for a bedroom. The blue/green undertones will give a bedroom a calm, relaxing feel.

Julie Buckingham Interiors used it on the walls of this gorgeous master bedroom.

benjamin moore gray owl bedroom walls with bed — via Houzz – Buckingham Interiors

SHOP BEDROOM ACCESSORIES COMPLEMENTARY TO GRAY OWL

KITCHEN CABINETS

The kitchen cabinet is a fantastic place to use Gray Owl. It will give your cabinets a beautiful wash of color without being too bold or “in your face.”

Main Street Kitchens at Botellos used it on these kitchen cabinets. The color gives the cabinets a very soft, clean, and crisp look. Absolutely stunning!

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl painted cabinets — via **Main Street Kitchens at Botellos**

READ MORE: HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS

WILL GRAY OWL BE A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Gray Owl certainly can be an option for the exterior! Don’t forget, though, that paint colors will wash out or look a bit light in the sun. Also, make sure you factor in the other color elements of your exterior, such as the roof and any stonework you have.

2 story gray house exterior — via Benjamin Moore

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE PAINT COLORS FOR THE EXTERIOR?

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GRAY OWL COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Neutral paint colors tend to be the easiest to find complementary colors for, especially grays. However, you have to keep in mind the undertones in the paint colors.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl has blue/green undertones. The accent colors you choose can either enhance or diminish those undertones.

It’s also important I note that cool-toned paint colors like this work well with dark wood.

SO WHAT COLORS GO WELL WITH BM GRAY OWL?

Decorator’s White OC-149
Super White OC-152
Providence Blue 1636
Boothbay Gray HC-165
Lush AF-475
Amherst Gray HC-167
Cushing Green HC-125
Coventry Gray HC-169
Hale Navy HC- 154
Chantilly Lace
Beach Glass

pinterest graphic of coordinating paint colors for gray owl

Gray Owl will also work with several blue-gray paint colors.

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IS THERE A SHERWIN WILLIAMS EQUIVALENT TO BM GRAY OWL?

There is no exact Sherwin Williams paint color equivalent to Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. However, there are several colors that are quite comparable but not identical. The one Sherwin Williams color that is a rather close match is:

Sherwin Williams Big Chill

As I said not identical but similar.

If you were thinking of color-matching, you should always get a sample beforehand. Sometimes, when you color match between paint manufacturers, the colors don’t come out exactly. This is because each brand formulates its paint differently.

Before we move on, I think now is a good time to talk about the BEST way to sample your paint colors.

Quickly, let’s talk about testing paint colors.

Instead of physically going to your nearest paint store to grab your samples, you need to try Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples.

Why should you try Samplize?

Super affordable
Mess-free
Non-damaging
Made with real manufacturer paint
Displays color just like a wall
Environmental friendly
Reusable

These peel & stick paint samples are super affordable and allow you to test a paint color in all different areas of a room without the mess of a traditional paint sample!

You know how I feel about testing paint colors, it’s a must!

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COLOR COMPARISONS

Everyone loves a good comparison (with paint colors, of course). As I’ve mentioned before, comparing paint colors is a wonderful way to help you see undertones and whether it’s a warm or cool color.

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL VS STONINGTON GRAY

Gray Owl is a bit lighter than Stonington Gray.
Stonington has an LRV of 59.75, and Gray Owl has an LRV of 65.77
Gray Owl’s predominant undertone is green.
Stonington Gray is a bit cooler with its blue undertone
Both are gorgeous, clean, light gray paint colors

READ MORE: STONINGTON GRAY COLOR REVIEW

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL VS CLASSIC GRAY

Classic Gray has an LRV of 74.78
Between the two paint colors, Gray Owl is darker.
Classic Gray is a very light, warm gray. It can be used as a white paint color in rooms where white doesn’t look right.
Classic Gray also has green undertones; however, they are rarely seen.

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL VS AGREEABLE GRAY

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60, a tad bit lower than Gray Owl at 65.77.
Of the two colors, Gray Owl is the cooler-toned paint color.
Agreeable Gray is a very versatile warm gray /greige paint color.
Agreeable Gray also has a green undertone that can be seen in certain instances.

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL VS MOONSHINE

Moonshine has an LRV of 68.28 which is a hair higher than Gray Owl’s 65.77.
These are very similar.
Moonshine is a tiny bit lighter.
Moonshine is also a cooler-toned gray.
Both Gray Owl and Moonshine have blue/green undertones.
Gray Owl can look a bit more of a neutral gray in the right situation.
*Bonus* I am so in love with Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

READ MORE: MOONSHINE COLOR REVIEW

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL VS REVERE PEWTER

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55.51
Compared to Gray Owl, Revere Pewter is the warmer gray / greige.
Gray Owl has more of a clean, crisp feel to it.
Both have a green undertone that can show up.
Revere Pewter works well as a transitional color.

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL VS BEHR GRAY OWL

Behr Gray Owl has an LRV of 16, which is the complete opposite of BM Gray Owl’s 65.77.
As you can clearly see in the picture, Behr Gray Owl is more of a dark, cool tone brown.
Other than the name Gray Owl, there aren’t any similarities between these two paint colors.

RECAP

The LRV of 65.77.
One of BM’s most popular gray paint colors.
It is a light gray paint color.
Green/blue undertones.
A north-facing room will enhance the cool tones of BM Gray Owl.
In a very well-lit room with a lot of natural light, it has the possibility to wash out a bit.
A versatile paint color that can work in almost any room.
It’s a fantastic paint color to use anywhere, especially the kitchen cabinets.
Looks amazing with crisp clean white paint colors like Super White and Chantilly Lace

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have to say, I get it. I can totally see why Gray Owl is one of Benjamin Moore’s best sellers. It’s a true beauty and I wholeheartedly believe it’s a versatile gray paint color.

With that being said, I also think you need to sample it before you paint your entire room. Why? because you want to make sure the color will work in your space, with your decor, and with your furnishings. Sampling the color is the only way you will know whether or not the green/blue undertones will show up.

In conclusion, if you are ok with a possible blue/green undertone showing up at times, I think you will love it. However, if you want nothing to do with those undertones and want a warmer gray I’d suggest looking At something like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray or Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray.

At any rate, I would highly recommend this gray pant color.

SAMPLE GRAY OWL NOW!

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR PAINTING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES!

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Drop cloths are a must for any painting project. Paint is messy! Save yourself the hassle of unnecessary cleanup by using drop cloths. You’ll be happy you did.

A high-quality paint brush will go a long way. The same goes for paint rollers. You want to use tools that will work with you, making your painting job easier.