Benjamin Moore Soft Chamois OC-13

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Soft Chamois by Benjamin Moore is the ultimate soft whitish greige paint color. This warm light neutral will add a sense of welcome and elegance to your home.

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out yet another exciting paint color review.

We have a doozy of a color today. Though I have to tell you it a neutral. I know, I know I just reviewed BM Ballet White but the color I’m talking about today is flat-out amazing.

Believe me, this is a color everyone has been sleeping on. It can possibly be my new favorite neutral.

Enough yapping, let me tell you all about the fabulous……

BENJAMIN MOORE SOFT CHAMOIS OC-13

STATS

• LRV – 77.4
• Hue Family – Yellow
• Collection – Off White Collection
• AKA – 969

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 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.

A great article I found that has more in-depth information about LRV is Light Reflectance Value: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

Essentially, Soft Chamois has a high LRV of 77.4. That’s pretty high up there. It’s obviously not the highest but you can expect that it will certainly reflect a good amount of light.

I think it’s always valuable to know what the hue family of a paint color is. It’s beneficial because it gives you a bit of insight into where the paint color stems from. And it can help you look out for what color it may shift to or show in certain qualities of light.

Soft Chamois comes from the yellow hue family.

As for the color collections, this certainly is not necessary information. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to see what other colors are also in the collection.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PAINT COLORS

FUN FACT*

Do you know what Chamois means?

1. an agile, goatlike antelope, Rupicapra rupicapra, of high mountains of Europe: now rare in some areas.
2. a soft, pliable leather from any of various skins dressed with oil, especially fish oil, originally prepared from the skin of the chamois.
3. a piece of this leather.
4. a cotton cloth finished to simulate this leather.

Dictionary.com

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

WHAT COLOR IS SOFT CHAMOIS?

Soft Chamois is categorized as an off-white paint color. This is how Benjamin Moore describes it:

A soothing white with a warm, delicately shaded cast.

Benjamin Moore

I agree with Benjamin Moore in that the color is a soothing warm color. But I’d say it’s closer to a dark off-white. It can translate to look like a soft, light creamy greige in certain lighting, but then It can also look closer to a warm off-white in other lighting.

Needless to say, this paint color, like all others, is influenced by lighting and elements around it. This is a major reason I always suggest sampling your paint colors first. It allows you to see how a paint color will look in your home. No guesswork is required.

I’d describe Soft Chamois as a warm, light, neutral paint color.

IS BENJAMIN MOORE SOFT CHAMOIS WARM OR COOL?

Soft Chamois is a warm paint color.

As I mentioned earlier, it comes from the yellow hue family. This is where the warmth of this paint color comes from.

It’s not overly warm, but you can tell it’s a warm paint color by looking at it. Some colors can be a bit more difficult to decipher their tone. This one is not.

If you are struggling with the tone of a paint color, I recommend comparing it to a color you are familiar with.

Explore More Warm-Toned Paint Colors:

• Edgecomb Gray – Bemjamin Moore
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• SW Agreeable Gray
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• BM Classic Gray

DOES SOFT CHAMOIS LOOK YELLOW?

No, Benjamin Moore Soft Chamois doesn’t look yellow.

Be aware that it does have some yellow in it, which provides it with its warmth. Knowing this, there is a chance that in certain lighting conditions, it may look a tad yellow. I’m not saying it’s going to look like a straight-up yellow paint color; however, it may appear a bit warmer.

Luckily, Soft Chamois has a bit of gray in it that keeps the yellow tones at bay. It’s a slightly creamy paint color that is heavily dependent on the lighting.

If you really want to know how it will look on your walls, grab a sample and test it in your home; this will give you a clear answer on how the color will appear.

READ MORE: FABULOUS SW YELLOW PAINT COLORS

Doing some painting yourself? Make sure you pick up this essential painting tool!

DOES SOFT CHAMOIS LOOK DINGY?

No, it is not a dingy-looking color. That being said I thank any color can look dingy if the lighting and conditions of the room are not ideal.

So if you have a dark room with little to no light, natural or artificial, a paint color can look dingy in that setting,

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES SOFT CHAMOIS HAVE?

Soft Chamois has slight green undertones. Before I go on, I have to give my PSA regarding undertones.

Undertones are very subjective. Everyone can see different undertones in a paint color. So, you may see Soft Chamois looking like it has slight green to it. But I may see it look more of a neutral greige with no underlying colors showing up.

Why? Because we all have different lighting conditions and elements factoring in on how the paint color looks.

Sure, I can tell you the is a chance you may see a yellow or green undertone, but that’s not a guarantee.

Testing a paint sample in your home will tell you exactly what will show up in the paint color.

But, for the sake of answering the question the best I can, Soft Chamois has undertones of green, yellow, and gray.

BM SOFT CHAMOIS, LIGHTING & CARDINAL DIRECTIONS

Lighting is one if not the most, important factor when it comes to what a paint color will look like.

It largely affects how you will perceive a paint color. For this reason, it’s a great idea to be knowledgeable about the lighting condition and the cardinal direction of the room you are choosing the right paint color for.

NORTH-FACING ROOMS – Light in North-facing rooms comes off cooler and somewhat bluish. Lighter colors may appear more muted, while bolder colors will show up, or appear sounder.

SOUTH-FACING ROOMS – In South-facing rooms, there tends to be a consistently bright light throughout the day. Warm and cool tones work with south-facing light, This light intensifies colors, so darker colors will seem a bit brighter while softer colors will appear to look like they are gleaming.

EAST-FACING ROOMS – East-facing rooms have the brightest light in the mornings, with a yellow-orange tone. If an east-facing room will be used mainly in the evenings, going with a warm palette will help balance the lack of natural light.

WEST-FACING ROOMS – Early evening is when West-facing rooms have the most favorable 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 strong as they would in the evening.

In a north-facing room, Soft Chamois may look a bit more on the greige side because of the light’s cool tones. But in a South facing room, it will show all the warmth it has,

It’s important to remember always to take lighting into consideration while choosing a paint color. But you cannot forget about the other elements that influence how a paint color may look. This includes fixed elements like cabinetry, flooring, tiles, etc. as well as the decor colors you choose for your home.

WHAT ARE THE BEST LIGHT BULBS TO USE?

Don’t forget about your light bulbs! The color of the light bulbs in your home is commonly overlooked and it can affect the way a paint color will look.

All lighting affects your paint color regardless of whether it is natural or artificial. But with artificial lighting, it can somewhat be doctored and that’s with the color of the light bulb you use.

The color of the light bulbs you use will influence how a paint color will look in a room. And unfortunately, it’s an important detail that is often overlooked.

With the variety of light bulbs available and it can become overwhelmingly confusing. I mean, what really soft white and bright white?

Thankfully, it becomes easier once you know a little bit about light bulbs.

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, as much as lighting plays a major 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’S THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE?

I’m an advocate for testing and sampling paint colors. I wholeheartedly believe it’s a legit way to see how a paint color will react in a room.

There are a few different ways you can sample paint colors. If you want to see how to get the most out of your samples. grab the sampling paint colors worksheet to help guide you.

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LEARN HOW TO TEST YOUR PAINT SAMPLE THE RIGHT WAY.

GRAB A SAMPLING PAINT COLORS WORKSHEET TO LEARN HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SAMPLES

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WHAT’S THE BEST TRIM COLOR FOR SOFT CHAMOIS?

When it comes to trim colors, generally, white is the most popular choice. So when you have a white or off-white wall color, finding a white trim color to work can sometimes throw you through the loop.

Whites are tricky to pair together because if done incorrectly the colors can look dirty or just plain off.

That being said I have a few white paint colors for trim that will work beautifully with Soft Chamois walls.

• Sherwin Williams Alabaster
• Benjamin Moore White Dove
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

If you want to keep it simple you can use Soft Chamois on both the walls and trim. but in different sheens. This will keep things cohesive.

Trim is usually painted in semi-gloss so go for satin, eggshell, or flat for the walls. The difference in sheen will give you enough contrast, plus you know it will 100% match!

READ MORE: THE BEST WHITE TRIM PAINT COLORS

Don’t start painting until you have the right tools!

SHOP MUST HAVE PAINTING TOOLS

WHERE TO USE SOFT CHAMOIS?

You can use Benjamin Moore Soft Chamois anywhere you want. Everyone gets caught up in what others are doing and where they are using paint colors but the reality is you can use a paint color anywhere you see fit.

I like to say if you take the steps to sample a paint color and you like the way it looks in your space, then go for it. Don’t bother worrying about what others are doing. It is your house and you have to live in it.

Now, what I will do is give you some examples of where others used Soft Chamois for some inspiration.

BEDROOM

IS SOFT CHAMOIS A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Sure I think Benjamin More Soft Chamois will work as an exterior paint color. Of course, there are a few things to know about paint colors on the exterior.

Paint colors used on the exterior have the tendency to look lighter in the sunlight, especially with lighter paint colors. This is very important.

If you like the way Soft Chamois looks on your walls, like a soft slightly warm off-white, it won’t look the same on your exterior. It may look much whiter and lose that slight warmth it has.

That’s not to say this is a terrible thing though if you have expectations of it looking a certain way, you may be disappointed.

My advice is to sample the color on your home and observe it in direct sunlight, shade, on a cloudy day, etc. Doing this will allow you to see how the color will act in each condition.

EXPLORE MORE EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS:

• The Best SW Exterior Colors
• Benjamin Moore Exterior Paint Colors
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• Paint Colors that go with Brick
• Hale Navy – A Great Exterior Blue

SOFT CHAMOIS COORDINATING COLORS

Let me share a few colors that work well with Soft Chamois. I know trying to come up with color palettes can be a challenging area for some.

Use these colors to help guide you in creating your own color palette.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS EQUIVALENT TO SOFT CHAMOIS

This is a question I often hear, whether there is a paint color equivalent in another paint brand.

The answer is no, there isn’t.

There are colors that are very similar to one another, but I have yet to find an exact dupe.

Often colors are so similar that they are nearly indistinguishable once they are painted on the walls.

But I do understand why people want to know if there is an equivalent.

There are times when you cannot access a paint brand, this can be due to multiple reasons, brand loyalty, your painter only using one type or you just don’t live near one or the other.

The Sherwin-Williams equivalent to BM Soft Chamois is Ivory Lace SW 7013. And again it’s not an exact dupe.

WHAT ABOUT 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, it has the potential of being 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.

COLOR COMPARISONS

Let’s compare a few colors!

This is always something I enjoy doing because you get to see the similarities and differences between the colors.

SOFT CHAMOIS VS WHITE DOVE

• White Dove has an LRV of 85.38 whereas Soft Chamois has an LRV of 77.4
• White Dove is closer to a white paint color
• Soft Chamois is darker and more off-white.
• Soft Chamois has more saturation or color to it
• Both are warm paint colors and from the yellow hue family

READ MORE: BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE PAINT COLOR REVIEW

SOFT CHAMOIS VS SWISS COFFEE

• Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 83.93, higher than SC’s 77.4
• Both colors are from the yellow hue family
• Swiss Coffee is lighter
• Soft Chamois has more color to it
• Both are warm paint colors

READ MORE: BENJAMIN MOORE SWISS COFFEE COLOR REVIEW

SOFT CHAMOIS VS BALLET WHITE

• Ballet White has an LRV of 71.97 which is lower than SC’s LRV of 77.4
• Ballet White is the darker of the two colors
• Both are warm paint colors
• Ballet White has a bit more yell to it and leans toward the yellow-red hue family

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW OF BENJAMIN MOORE BALLET WHITE

SOFT CHAMOIS VS ALABASTER

• Sherwin Williams Alabaster has an LRV of 82 which is higher than SC’s 77.4
• Alabaster is the lighter paint color
• both are from the yellow hue family
• SC has more saturation or color to it
• both have a warmth to them

READ MORE: SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER REVIEW

CONSTANTLY FORGETTING WHAT PAINT COLORS YOU USED IN YOUR HOME? KEEP TRACK OF THEM ALL WITH THIS HANDY PAINT COLOR KEEPER

RECAP

As I usually do at the end of my articles, here’s a brief overview of all the information I just tossed at you.

• LRV – 77.4
• Collection – Off-White Collection
• AKA – 969
• has undertones of green and yellow
• it’s a warm paint color
• it translates as a soft light greige
• the best way to sample is with SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK PAINT SAMPLES
• looks good with white trim
• it’s a great paint color to use in your home, especially in bedrooms
• it may appear with a warm creaminess to it
• has a welcoming and elegant feel to it
• makes a great backdrop for many decor styles

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!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I like Benjamin Moore’s Soft Chamois. Plain and simple.

It’s a great neutral off-white paint color and I think it’s truly underrated.

I think if you are on the market for a warm paint color, that has a bit more depth than a white paint color but is not too saturated, you might like this one.

Don’t forget, to sample Soft Chamois where you intend to use the color. Lighting will change in the room so pay attention and be observant. You want to make sure you will love the color in every lighting situation.

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