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Should You Still Use October Mist by Benjamin Moore in 2023? (The Ultimate Review!)

    October Mist was Benjamin Moore’s 2022 Color of the Year. It was super on trend at the time, but does it still work in 2023 and moving forward?

    October Mist Paint Swipe Swatch

    Let’s take a look at this sagey shade, see it in real homes, revisit our color palette, and of course, check out some alternatives!

    This post may contain affiliate links. Should you choose to make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products that I use.

    Is October Mist Still Stylish in 2023?

    First things first: Is this color so last year? Or will it still wow in your home?

    Something that you should know about any “Color of the Year,” is that they do take a bit to catch on. Most people are not obsessively checking for the latest color and ready to repaint their homes, so you will actually be at the height of style if you use it a year or two after release.

    After a color reaches peak popularity, it will typically ride that wave for another 5 to 7 years.

    All this to say: No you aren’t too late with October Mist.

    On sage greens in general, I would say that the trend is still climbing.

    What Color is October Mist by Benjamin Moore? Undertones and More

    October Mist is a subtle sage color that is versatile enough for your whole home, not just for accents here and there!

    October Mist on a dresser
    Photo credit: @bayberrymoon

    This is what Benjamin Moore says about their new color CC-550 (October Mist):

    This gently shaded sage quietly anchors a space, while encouraging individual expression through colour.

    Allow me to read into that description a little. “Quietly anchors a space” implies to me that this is meant to be a darker neutral. That’s not a description that would be used for light and bright colors.

    “Encouraging individual expression through color” tells me that this is intended to be a color that plays well with many other bolder colors. That holds true, as you will see in a moment! October Mist does work really well with a lot of other shades.

    The color October Mist on a bathroom wall above a white counter and sink. A wood mirror hangs on the wall.

    Is October Mist Green or Beige?

    October Mist is green, but it can translate as a muddier green depending on the lighting and other factors. If you really hate beige or olive, you may want a cooler shade of green.

    October Mist LRV

    The LRV of October Mist is 46.33

    The LRV of a color indicates on a scale of 0 – 100 how much light a color reflects (or doesn’t reflect). True black has an LRV of 0 and pure white has an LRV of 100.

    In the paint world, we are working in a range of about 3 – 93 because no paint color is purely black or completely white.

    The LRV of October Mist plotted at 46 on a scale of 0 (complete black) to 100 (Pure White)

    It surprised me that October Mist is that dark, to be honest. Any color with an LRV under 50 will absorb more light than it reflects. I was expecting it to be in the 50 – 60 range.

    What Are the Undertones of Benjamin Moore October Mist?

    October Mist is a green color with yellow undertones. The RGB is 71.76% red, 72.55% green and 65.1% blue. This is a very balanced color.

    October Mist paint dot beside a picture of the hex chart over a background of a misty autumn river

    Is October Mist Warm or Cool?

    In my opinion October Mist is a true neutral. I have seen pictures of it against pure white accessories and I think it looks cool toned. Then I see it playing off of cream and yellow and I think it looks warm.

    On the color wheel it is ever so slightly into the warm tones.

    Graphic reads "Nail down your neutral color scheme in 60 minutes or less" with an image of the foolproof neutrals ebook. Button below reads "Show me how!"

    October Mist in a Color Palette

    Putting this palette together was the best part of this whole article!

    October mist color Palette of 6 colors that go well with the sagey green. Top 3 are Healing Aloe, Hale Navy, and Chantilly Lace. Second row is cavern clay,  white dove, venetian portico.

    I kept this palette a little more crisp by using bright whites and non-traditional neutrals. If you like yellows, creams, and very warm neutrals, that could work well with October Mist too.

    Don’t Forget Your Supplies!

    This little brush might look funny, but it’s my absolute ride or die!

    Rollers like these hold the most paint and make the job faster. Get a metal roller cage for easy on and off.

    DryDex is the fastest (and funnest!) way to make chips and dents disappear. (Make sure you get a small spackling tool that actually fits in the container, and a sanding sponge.)

    This tool will save your back and limit time on a ladder.

    October Mist With Healing Aloe

    I decided to try October Mist with Healing Aloe, first of all because I love Healing Aloe, but secondly because they are very similar colors.

    Two paint spots, one for healing aloe- a pale sage color, and October Mist - a darker sage color

    I think that they look great together! If you wanted to go monochromatic with your color scheme, pairing these two would be a great option.

    October Mist With Hale Navy

    I actually tried October Mist with Hale Navy on a whim. People always swear that Hale Navy goes with everything, which is an easy claim to make when we’re talking about whites, grays, and beige, but what about a green neutral?

    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, and Hale Navy a dark Grey-Blue

    It’s official: Hale Navy goes with everything!

    I love how it looks with October Mist, which is great news if your house is full of Hale Navy but you want to update your neutrals.

    (If you’re trying to choose a navy, you might also like the subtle charcoal navy-ness of Sherwin Williams Cyberspace.)

    October Mist With Chantilly Lace

    Chantilly Lace is another treasured favorite from Benjamin Moore. Not just for me, for a whole lot of people!

    I remember when I chose Chantilly Lace for my own house that it was very neutral, but technically a green shade of white. That made me think that it would work great with October Mist, and I think it does.

    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, and Chantilly Lace a pale almost white color

    October Mist With Cavern Clay

    Across the colour wheel from sage greens are the warm clay tones of red and orange. I happen to love a good terracotta, but it’s hard to get right.

    October mist on the wall in a living room behind a rattan table with two matching chairs and neutral colored rug and accessories

    Sherwin Williams Cavern Clay is a rich, warm, earthy color without being too bright. Maybe because it’s a natural color, Cavern Clay could be obnoxious but it reads very neutral.

    In Benjamin Moore’s 2022 color collection there was a shade called Wild Flower, which is another earthy clay color. I feel like Wild Flower is just a little too pink, so that’s why I went with Cavern Clay.

    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, and Cavern Clay, a rich terracotta color

    I love the sage green of October Mist paired with Cavern Clay, it’s bold, but it’s just… *chef’s kiss*.

    October Mist With Venetian Portico

    The only other color of the year by Benjamin Moore that I decided to include in my October Mist palette is Venetian Portico.

    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, and Venetian Portico a light clay color.

    I am really digging this color! It’s actually pretty similar to the Sherwin Williams 2023 Color of the Year: Redend Point

    To me the color is a rich blush color, just slightly more neutral, which is the only way I would dare to put it on my walls.

    Hear me out: October Mist with Venetian Portico and Hale Navy. That sounds like a winning combo to me!

    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, Venetian Portico - a light clay color, and Hale Navy - a very dark gray-blue.
    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, Cavern Clay - a rich terracotta color, and Hale navy - a dark gray blue.

    October Mist With White Dove

    Another forever favorite from Benjamin Moore, across the Pinterest-o-sphere and beyond, is White Dove.

    I chose White Dove because I wanted another white option for October Mist. I do find the color a bit dark for me personally, so I think I would want to add white here and there.

    Side by side circles of color: October Mist - a sage green, and white dove, a warm off-white

    White Dove is a warm white, and that’s why I thought it would pair great with the greenish-gray across the color wheel.

    I would be hard pressed to choose between Chantilly Lace and White Dove. I think both would look incredible with October Mist or any other sage green color.

    If you are interested in a creamy white, you might also like Sherwin Williams White Flour, or Whitetail.

    October Mist Compared to Other Popular Gray Green and Sage Colors

    There are a LOT of great greens, so while I have several in this article, I also cover even more in my Ultra Sophisticated Gray-Green Paint Colors post.

    October Mist vs Sea Salt

    First up we have Sherwin Williams Sea Salt:

    Color swatches of Benjamin moore October Mist vs Sherwin Williams sea salt. Two sage greens, sea salt is slightly lighter and cooler toned than october mist

    A quick side-by-side shows that Sherwin Williams Sea Salt is lighter and cooler-toned than October Mist.

    Sea Salt and October Mist would never be confused for each other, but both are warmer leaning gray greens that you can use almost anywhere!

    Read my whole post about Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

    October Mist vs Benjamin Moore Sea Salt

    I was today years old when I discovered that Benjamin Moore also makes a color named “Sea Salt.”

    I thought it would be fun to compare this to October mist too.

    Benjamin Moore October mist vs benjamin moore sea salt. Sea Salt is a neutral tan color.

    Clearly the Benjamin Moore version of Sea Salt isn’t in the sage family at all. It’s actually a pretty nice neutral!

    I really wonder why it’s named Sea Salt though, because a neutral beige is not what I think of when I hear the term, whether Sherwin Williams Sea Salt existed or not.

    October Mist vs Revere Pewter

    If you have spent any time painting or renovating in the last few years, you’ve heard of Revere Pewter. Maybe you’ve even tried it on your walls.

    Let’s compare Benjamin Moore’s former color of the year against possibly the neutral color of the decade:

    Benjamin Moore Neutrals comparison of October Mist, a neutral sage green above a color swatch of Revere Pewter, a warm gray.

    Against Revere Pewter, October Mist looks significantly more green than it does against some other colors. Revere Pewter is decidedly more brown toned, and looks quite warm in comparison.

    These two colors actually go well with each other (in my opinion), so if you are considering repainting your existing Revere Pewter, you could do that without needing to repaint your whole house.

    October Mist is a more updated color, since green neutrals are getting hot this year, but it’s hard to imagine it ageing as well as Revere Pewter has.

    October Mist vs Evergreen Fog

    It’s the battle of the former Colors of the Year!

    I don’t know if this has happened before, but I was surprised to see how similar both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams went with their Colors of the Year in 2022:

    Swatches of benjamin moore color of the year for 2022 vs sherwin williams color of the year. Both are sage greens. Benjamin Moore's October mist is a lighter more green shade vs sherwin williams darker and more gray.

    That’s right, Sherwin Williams also chose a gray-green sage color to represent 2022. I feel like Evergreen Fog is Sea Salt’s sophisticated big sister. It’s darker and richer than Sea Salt, but still a bit more cool-toned than October Mist.

    For me personally, the big difference is that I would not paint my whole house in Evergreen Fog. It is just that little bit too dark. I would use it in areas with good natural light, in small rooms, or on an accent wall, but in the dark days of winter I think Evergreen Fog would be too much.

    If we’re talking about tone, I might prefer Evergreen Fog ever so slightly over October Mist. If you LOVE Evergreen Fog, but are leaning lighter, check out Acacia Haze.

    October Mist vs Camouflage

    October Mist and Camouflage aren’t especially similar, but if you are looking for a neutral that isn’t gray, either of these might work for you.

    Two color swatches. October Mist vs camouflage, where October mist is a sage green and camouflage is more of a khaki-tan color.

    Camouflage is definitely warm where October Mist is pretty neutral. They are about the same level of lightness.

    October Mist next to Camouflage truly reminds me of camouflage. Both are shades that you could find in Khaki.

    October Mist vs Saybrook Sage

    Another Benjamin Moore vs Benjamin Moore battle is October Mist against Saybrook Sage.

    This one might surprise you!

    Sage Greens from Benjamin Moore - October Mist vs Saybrook sage. Almost identical colors but Saybrook is slightly greener.

    I took a quick look and Saybrook Sage is a Benjamin Moore Color from their Historical Collection, which was inspired by America’s Historical Landmarks. What does that mean? This color has been out since 1976!

    Saybrook Sage is so similar to October Mist that if you like one it may be hard to choose between them. Saybrook sage is more green where October Mist is slightly more yellow.

    October Mist vs Oyster Bay

    Our last color vs color battle for now is October Mist vs. Oyster Bay by Sherwin Williams.

    A comparison of two paint drops. One is October mist and the other is Oyster bay by Sherwin Williams. Oyster bay is slightly more of a blue sage color vs October mist.

    Oyster Bay is definitely more gray than October Mist. Besides that, it is probably the closest Sherwin Williams color that we’ve compared.

    I really like Oyster Bay. The grayness does make it seem a bit darker than October Mist perhaps, but it is very similar.

    Either of these would be a good sage color for your home.

    October Mist vs Other Sage Colors in a Nutshell

    Here is a chart of all the gray-green sage colors that we have compared, plus one more!

    6 Shades of sage colors or green-grays. Top 3 spots are October mist, Healing Aloe, Sea Salt, Saybrook Sage, Oyster Bay, and Evergreen Fog

    Healing Aloe is a much lighter color than all of the other ones that we have looked at, but I wanted to include it because it is such a great color!

    If you are considering October Mist, but are worried it is too dark for your whole home, Healing Aloe would be a great choice. Side by side you can see that they read very similar in tone. Healing Aloe is ever so slightly more green, in addition to being lighter and a little less saturated.

    Hex code chart for October Mist - shows the color on a yellow-green color chart
    Hex Charts from htmlcolorcodes.com
    Hex code chart for Healing Aloe - shows the color on a yellow-green color chart

    October Mist in Real Homes

    Because October Mist is still relatively new, it’s pretty hard to find good examples that aren’t the manufacturer’s stock photos. Here are a few shots that I collected of October Mist in the flesh!

    October Mist on mud room cabinets
    Photo Credit: @thenorthernjoinery

    This project by @thenorthernjoinery might be small, but it’s a fabulous example of October Mist in all different lighting.

    In that first photo, October Mist looks pretty light.

    Now from another angle, we see the darker and warmer tones of this gray green:

    Mud room cabinets painted in October Mist
    Photo Credit: @thenorthernjoinery

    Here’s another, where it looks somewhere in the middle:

    October Mist on bench seating
    Photo credit: @thenorthernjoinery

    Let’s pop on back to the light side, with this project by Gina of @bayberrymoon:

    October Mist looking minty and light on a dresser.
    Photo credit: @bayberrymoon

    Bear in mind that there is a more reflective finish on this dresser than your walls are likely to have.

    October Mist on an Exterior

    Too bad so sad for us, October Mist is not yet a popular exterior choice! Here is the very similar Saybrook Sage on an exterior, to at least give you an idea:

    Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage on an exterior. Very similar to October Mist.
    Photo credit: @ivyhouselunenberg

    October Mist will look a bit warmer than this. Think just a touch more “spring green.”

    Other Benjamin Moore Alternatives to October Mist

    Looking for a color like October Mist, but haven’t quite found the perfect one yet?

    Fear not! I have collected similar colors that we haven’t talked about yet!

    A paint spot of October Mist above six smaller dots of similar shaded neutral grey, green, and browns.

    Grecian Green

    Grecian Green is another color that is very similar to October Mist. It is a little bit greener and lighter.

    Winterwood

    Winterwood is part of Benjamin Moore’s Classic Colors collection, and I can see why. Winterwood is the definition of neutral. It’s not exactly gray or beige. It is in the yellow color family on the hex chart, so it’s a warmer neutral.

    Mountain Air

    Mountain Air is another chameleon color. Here it looks quite tan against the greens and grays, but paired with warmer tones it definitely looks neutral. Mountain Air is very similar to Revere Pewter.

    If you are looking for something warmer than gray, but not green, Mountain Air could be for you!

    Dry Sage

    Dry Sage is darker and more saturated in the yellow-greens than other colors that we have looked at. If you are looking for a warmer green neutral, Dry Sage might be the one.

    A living room wall in October Haze behind a retro modern couch beside a trailing plant on a stool and a pink picture on the wall.
    October Mist

    Fieldstone

    Ah Fieldstone. Maybe because I’m getting older I’ve gotten set in my ways, but it’s so hard to pry grays out of my hands!

    Fieldstone is slightly darker than my all time favorite gray: Morning Rain. Other than that it’s very similar, therefore I can’t be objective, and we must move on.

    Sea Haze

    Sea Haze would be perfect if you like October Mist but aren’t sure if it’s a little too green and a hair too warm.

    Sea Haze still reads “sage” very much, but without even a hint of olive or khaki. Not going to lie, I’m selling myself on Sea Haze.

    October Mist Final Moody Musings

    I hope you found this article helpful! October Mist is a versatile not-too-dark sage green that you could use in your whole home.

    It is warmer than a blue-gray sage color and works well in modern farmhouse color schemes with creamy whites.

    Fear not, if you haven’t found your perfect paint! Here are some more posts to help you find “the one.”

    Graphic of 9 paint dots over a background of a dark green room with a green velvet chair, plants, and a rose gold coffee table. Paint colors from top left to bottom right are: October mist, avocado whip, carolina gull, palace green, oak moss, peale green, ocean tropic, vintage vogue, roycroft bottle green.
    Graphic of 9 green circles reads "Dark Green Paint Colors" From top left to bottom right colors are: vogue green, vine leaf, vintage vogue, tarrytown green, black evergreen, ripe olive, cascades, greenblack, and salamander. Background photo is a dark green bedroom with an iron bed frame and terracotta colored bedding.
    A collection of gray green paint colors as will be discussed in article