Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky – Blue Gray Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky 2122-30 is a bold gray-blue paint color that is described by Benjamin Moore as “part of Color Preview. A collection of bold, saturated colors that brings spaces to life for those looking to illuminate their world with pure, extraordinary color. A great complement to Classic Colors, Color Preview offers a collection of 1,232 hues that excite and inspire with pure, deep, clear colors that create striking combinations. It’s a great color for those interested in zhushing up their walls with something moody and bold. The color can take on different shades in different settings. It’s darker and color without natural light and a little brighter with an abundance of light. Bold colors with more muted tones such as Cloudy Sky add depth and sophistication to a space. Sometimes even offering a calming feel, which Cloud Sky totally does.

What color is Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky?

Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky is a dark blue-gray paint color.

I would call Cloudy Sky a dark blue-gray paint color in most instances. There are some circumstances in which Cloudy Sky becomes more of a blue paint color. In spaces with a lot of natural light, it can lean much more blue than gray. You can see that below in the main bedroom of my home.

We have three large southwest-facing windows which results in a much warmer space so you see the blue undertones come through much more so in this space. The color will be much more true dark blue-gray in a space that has less natural light.

The LRV for Cloudy Sky is 32.34. Benjamin Moore defines LRV or Light Reflectance Value, “as a measurement commonly used by design professionals—such as architects and interior designers—that expresses the percentage of light reflected from a surface. LRVs range from 0-100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being absolute black.”

So while this color isn’t as dark as some blue gray paint colors, it does have a low LRV which means at night, with no natural light it appears even darker.

What’s a good space to use Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky?

I think Cloudy Sky is great in a variety of spaces but because of its bold yet serene nature, I like it best in a bedroom. Bold colors really belong anywhere you feel confident putting them. This particular color has a feeling of tranquility and is soothing to me. Those are two properties I definitely want in a sanctuary space like a bedroom.

If Cloudy Sky seems a little bold for you and you aren’t ready to commit to a full room such as a bedroom then a smaller space like a bathroom is a great place to start with bold color. Bold colors do great in small spaces so if you aren’t ready to go all-in, experiment in a small space first.

I completely get the daunting task that is choosing a paint color. When I first decided to paint our bedroom a shade of blue-gray I selected about six paint colors and did several large paint swatches on multiple walls. I like this particular color because it’s more muted and I would even call this a borderline bold paint color. These days blue paint colors verge more into neutral territory than they do adventurous.

That being said, painting a larger space like a bedroom or living space Cloudy Sky could be a pretty bold statement depending on the space. If you are interested in splashing some color on the walls without going too bold, this is a great paint color to try.

What’s a good trim color to use with Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky?

You can never go wrong with pairing white trim with any paint color. A nice bright white paint color looks great with Cloudy Sky. I like using Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace on the trim. Another paint color that is a bright true white that pairs nicely with cooler paint colors are Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White.

What paint sheen should I go with?

In general, I’m a fan of an eggshell sheen. I will also go up to the satin sheen in spaces that my kids frequent because the satin sheen is easier to clean. That being said, if you like a more matte finish, consider a flat or eggshell sheen. If you like a glossier finish then go for a semi-gloss sheen.

What paint colors go well with Cloudy Sky?

I mentioned above that this Benjamin Moore color could almost be considered a neutral as most blue and gray paint colors are now. That means you could really pair this with a wide variety of colors depending on the direction you are going. If you want to stay in the cool realm colors like Paletest Pistachio and Snow White go nicely with Cloudy Sky as they are on the same color card.

Let’s take a look at Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky in some spaces.

This is a rendering of Cloudy Sky in its truest state on the Benjamin Moore website. As I’ve previously mentioned, this color will take on different shades depending on the room’s lighting conditions but in its truest state, it is a dark blue-gray color.

Here’s Cloudy Sky painted on some cabinetry. In the back corner, you can see that the color is taking on a more dark gray tint while the cabinets in the foreground that are closer to the light appear more of a light blue. That shows you how different this color can look in different lighting situations.

Here’s Cloudy Sky in our home’s main bedroom. You can see one of the large windows there which brings the color to a might brighter hue. At night the color is much darker while still feeling quite tranquil. It goes well with my coastal paint color palette.

If you are considering a bold blue paint color I think Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky should be on the list of possibilities. It’s a great color if you are new to bold paint but it’s also just a sophisticated hue that is neutral enough to work in just about any space. You might also want to check out this list of 12 great gray blue paint colors. If you have any questions let me know in the comments below.