Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue, HC-147 A Calming Blue Green
Let’s talk about a gorgeous soft blue-green paint color that I can’t get enough of. It’s a subtle and timeless color that has a serene feel. Woodlawn Blue is super versatile and because of that, it can be used as a neutral paint color in a variety of spaces. Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue works with many design styles including traditional, modern farmhouse, and coastal interiors. Whether it’s on bedroom walls, kitchen cabinets, or all over a living area, Woodlawn Blue provides a soft and serene backdrop that gives just the right amount of warmth that feels inviting and cozy.
All About Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue HC-147
Known for its calming yet vibrant nature, Benjamin Moore Woodlawn is a favorite paint color for coastal interiors. It’s one of the elegant colors of the Historical Collection and is described as, “a delicate wash of blue that brings to mind a delicate crystal.” The blue paint color isn’t a true blue. It’s got heavy green undertones that make it the ultimate blue-green that keeps it away from the baby blue category. It also has a subtle hint of gray which softens it just enough so it feels calm yet full of life. This is a paint color that I’d expect to see as a main-level paint color in a beach house, or in a bathroom in a traditional home. I’d also expect to see it as a calming backdrop for a luxurious bedroom or in a serene home office. Woodlawn Blue is multi-faceted and has a range of spaces in which it can look its best. Let’s take a look at this vibrant hue and see if it’s a good fit for your home.
What Color is Woodlawn Blue and How Light is it?
Woodlawn Blue is a beautiful soft blue-green color. It has a hint of gray which helps to keep it grounded and muted, but still vibrant. The lightness of the color can range from a bright blue-green to a soft light blue/gray depending on the type and amount of light.
What is the LRV of Woodlawn Blue?
The Light Reflectance Value or LRV of Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue is 60.65
LRV is a useful tool for determining how light or dark a paint color is (100 being the whitest white and 0 being the darkest black). Keep in mind that “light” refers to Light Reflective Value, meaning the amount of light reflected. The more reflective the color, the brighter/lighter it will appear. Woodlawn Blue is pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of value. Compared to another popular light blue-green paint color, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, which has an LRV of 63, Woodlawn Blue has a slightly lower LRV because it has a little more depth of color and reflects less light. If we were to see these colors side by side we would clearly see that Woodlawn Blue is more vibrant and slighter deeper.
Is Woodlawn Blue a Warm or Cool?
Like all blue paint colors Woodlawn Blue is cool. Some light to medium blue paint colors can feel icy or cold but that’s not the case with Woodlawn Blue. This is due to its green/gray undertones which bring just enough warmth that you don’t have to worry about Woodlawn Blue feeling frosty. In fact, although it’s a cool color it brings a subtle warmth to whichever space it is in. If you want a really pretty, soft yet vibrant medium blue that can pass for a neutral then this one is a great choice.
What Undertones Does Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue?
Undertones are important in understanding how a color might look in your space. Just grabbing a paint card from the hardware store and holding it up to your walls doesn’t give you enough information to know how it’s going to look once the entire room is painted that color. Every color has undertones that affect how they are going to look once a full wall is covered in that color. Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue is no different. Woodlawn Blue is a blue green paint color that favors blue. It has some gray undertones that can give it a slightly muddy look in certain lighting. The mixture of green into Woodlawn Blue keeps it from appearing too bright but also too cool. It’s the perfect combination of blue and green with the slightest bit of gray mixed in.
What Paint Sheen Should I Use for Woodlawn Blue?
As a general rule, I like an eggshell finish or a flat sheen for living spaces. However, feel free to use the sheen of your choice for this paint color. Keep in mind, if you need more durability then you can go to a satin or a semi-gloss just know that you will have a higher level of shine and those finishes are less forgiving to any wall blemishes or touch-ups you may have. Additionally, if you want to make a statement, try using Woodlawn Blue on the walls and the baseboards (ex. satin on the walls and semigloss on the baseboards) in different sheen to create a subtle contrast.
Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue in Real Spaces
In order to properly evaluate the attractiveness of Woodlawn Blue, it is necessary to observe it IRL (in real life). Seeing photos of Woodlawn Blue in actual spaces is a great way to get a more accurate idea of how the color looks and could look in your own home. Let’s take a look!
Starting off strong, this color is SLAYING. Everything that you want your bedroom to be, calming, serene, and relaxing, Woodlawn Blue is giving in this room. I love the contrast of the walls with the textured neutral accents like the chairs and the chest as well as the white trim. So pretty!
I had to double, triple check that this color on the kitchen cabinets in here was Woodlawn Blue. It is in fact Woodlawn Blue and I’m glad I found this example. Seeing Woodlawn Blue in this really pale version is stunning. I suspect that you’ll need an abundance of natural light to pour in in order to receive this level of pale blue out of Woodlawn Blue.
This photo proved to me that Woodlawn Blue could be an all-over paint color. What’s really catching my eye is how well the blue pops against the dark hardwood flooring. I love Woodlawn Blue with light wood floors but I’m really digging this look as well.
This coastal bedroom is exactly what pops into my mind when I see Woodlawn Blue. I see a gorgeous, serene beach house bedroom and that’s exactly what is served up in this space. The blue backdrop creates a really relaxing canvas on which to build a beautiful bedroom.
Fluidesign Studio photo by Seth Benn Photo
This serene blue begs to be in not just bedrooms but spa-like bathrooms too. All of the elements in this bathroom work so well together. We get a glimpse at how well Woodlawn Blue goes with a warm neutral gray and slate tile.
If you’re thinking that Woodlawn Blue isn’t for you because your style isn’t coastal well, allow this space to reassure you. This more traditional bedroom is so soothing in blue.
This space, my favorite of all is so luxe while still feeling calming and inviting. I love the contrast of the white accents and the blue walls.
Lastly, this traditional living space has tons of natural light so Woodlawn Blue looks super subtle in here. It’s soften and gives just a hint of blue but it’s enough to feel inviting.
Where Can You Use Woodlawn Blue?
To be honest, I like Woodlawn Blue in a lot of places. As I mentioned before, Woodlawn Blue is a great color for traditional homes and farmhouses. It’s ideal for coastal homes and it’s even gorgeous in transitional design. I don’t know that I consider Woodlawn Blue an “all-over” paint color because you could overdo it but I think it warms up a living room quite nicely. I think Woodlawn Blue is a really gorgeous and unique cabinet paint color and it’s exceptional in bedrooms and bathrooms creating a really serene atmosphere. Woodlawn Blue works beautifully as an exterior paint color for craftsman, coastal, or colonial style homes. It will lighten up the harsh sunlight but it won’t completely wash out. Overall, Woodlawn Blue is a color that you can use in a variety of spaces in your home to add warmth and coziness. Here are some of the places I’d use Woodlawn Blue
- In kitchens on walls or on cabinetry
- Bedrooms
- Living Rooms
- Dining Rooms
- Entryways
- Bathroom
- Hallways
- Exteriors
- Front Doors
- Home Offices
- Accents
Additionally pairing Woodlawn with bold accent walls or other wall treatments like board and batten or other light wood accent walls is also really nice touch.
What are some Complementary Colors to Woodlawn Blue, HC-147?
Woodlawn Blue is a vibrant blue-green paint color that beautifully complements a coastal color palette. That’s not all though, you can coordinate Woodlawn Blue with a terracotta, a warm beige, tan, or brown. A warm greige like Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige or Sherwin Williams Repose Gray both are beautiful neutral colors that pair well with Woodlawn Blue. There are many options and directions you can go in with Woodlawn Blue. I think you’ll find this a pretty easy color to work with. For trim, I think both Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and White Dove are great options. For a coastal palette, these coastal colors will work lovely with Woodlawn Blue.
What are Some Alternative Colors to Woodlawn Blue?
I’m glad you asked – let’s take a look at some other popular blue-green paint colors that may be good alternatives to Woodlawn Blue.
Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue vs. Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue
First up, check out Wythe Blue.
Wythe Blue, like Woodlawn Blue, is a blue-forward blue-green paint color that suits coastal spaces really well. It’s a bit deeper than Woodlawn Blue with an LRV of around 48 compared to Woodlawn Blue’s 61. Which means it will appear darker on the wall as it absorbs less light. If Woodlawn Blue is too light for you but you love the blue-green hue then I suggest giving Wythe Blue a try.
Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue vs. Sherwin Williams Sea Salt
Now, let’s compare Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue to a cult favorite, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. Sea Salt is technically considered a “green” paint color but it’s definitely a green-gray that can pull blue at times. A true chameleon paint color, it changes in all different lighting. Sea Salt and Woodlawn Blue have virtually the same LRV so they are almost the same in value so in terms of lightness, they are pretty close however the color may look drastically different. If Woodlawn Blue feels too blue for you then Sea Salt might be a good alternative as it’s more green forward than blue.
Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue vs. Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue
Lastly, let’s look at Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue next to a verryyyyy similar color, Benjamin Moore’s Palladian Blue. Tonally, Woodlawn Blue and Palladian Blue are very similar. Palladian Blue’s LRV is 60.4 compared to Woodlawn Blue’s 60.65. Very close. The actual colors do vary though. Woodlawn Blue has more blue-gray to it while Palladian Blue is a touch greener. That being said, both Woodlawn Blue and Palladian Blue feel deeper and more saturated than Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. If you’re unsure, I would grab a sample of each of them and test them out in your space!
Wrapping Up Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue HC-147
Woodlawn Blue by Benjamin Moore is a soft, serene blue-green paint color that can be used in a variety of rooms and styles. Whether you choose to use it on walls, doors, or cabinets, the effect will be stunning. It works especially well in traditional and coastal design but with its mix of green and gray undertones, it is a versatile choice for modern and transitional interiors as well. Woodlawn Blue pairs beautifully with terracotta, warm beige, tan and brown colors. For trim, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or White Dove are both great options to coordinate with Woodlawn Blue. With all of this information, I’m certain that you are prepared to decide if Woodlawn Blue is right for your home! Good luck on your journey to finding the perfect paint color for your home!
