I’ve been testing BM Smokey Taupe paint in my home for the past six months. Now, I want to share everything I’ve learned about this sophisticated neutral shade.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What BM Smokey Taupe actually looks like in real homes
- Which rooms work best with this color
- Colors that pair perfectly with it
- How to test it properly before buying
I’ve used this paint in both north and south-facing rooms and watched how it changes from morning to evening. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.
My walls have been Smokey Taupe for over half a year now. I know how it holds up and how it feels to live with every day. Let’s see if this soft, balanced neutral is right for your home.
What Kind of Color Is Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe?
Smokey Taupe (983) is a soft, muted taupe with subtle purple undertones. It’s a gentle color that adds a warm, natural feeling without being too bold or intense. I think of it as the color of weathered wood with just a hint of warmth.
I’ve noticed it shifts throughout the day. In morning light, the brown aspects become clearer and more noticeable. By afternoon, it takes on a more neutral quality that feels balanced and soothing.
The color has an LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of 54.53, placing it in the medium-light range. This means it reflects more light than it absorbs, creating a bright yet still substantial presence in a space. The balanced nature of Smokey Taupe makes it great for creating rooms that feel both airy and refined.
What makes Smokey Taupe stand out is how it adapts to its surroundings. In some spaces, it appears more gray, while in others, the warm aspects become more visible. This flexibility helps it work well in many settings and with various home styles.
What Rooms Work Best with Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe?
I’ve found that Smokey Taupe truly works in spaces where you want a natural, calming look that still has some character. It’s not just about which rooms – it’s also about the lighting, the style, and what feeling you want to create. Based on my experience, here are the spaces where Smokey Taupe performs best:
Living Rooms
This color makes living areas feel warm and comfortable without being too dark. It creates a soft background that allows furniture and art to stand out. In my living room, Smokey Taupe walls make the space feel natural while highlighting my white sofa and dark wood accent pieces.
The color works especially well in both large and medium living spaces. In larger rooms, it helps create a sense of unity. In medium rooms, it adds depth without feeling too closed in when paired with the right accessories.
Bedrooms
The soft, earthy tones make bedrooms feel calm and relaxing. This color creates a peaceful background that helps with rest and sleep. In my main bedroom, I paired Smokey Taupe with white bedding and medium wood tones for a retreat that feels both natural and balanced.
The color also tends to make bedrooms feel more restful. The subtle, warm undertones create a sense of comfort that many people find helpful for sleep environments. Since painting my bedroom this shade, I’ve found that it feels more organized and peaceful.
Home Offices
The color helps create focus without being distracting. The soft taupe feels professional yet calming during work hours. I painted my home office in this shade and find it makes the perfect background for video calls while keeping me focused.
Smokey Taupe is particularly effective in offices that need to feel balanced and organized. The color seems to reduce visual stress and create a sense of calm. I’ve noticed I feel more productive in my Smokey Taupe office compared to my previous stark white workspace.
Kitchens
Smokey Taupe adds subtle depth to kitchens without competing with cabinets or backsplashes. It creates a natural feeling that still feels clean and bright. My friend painted her kitchen this color with white cabinets, creating a balanced look that still has character.
The color works well with both white and wood cabinets, making it very flexible for most kitchen styles. It adds just enough color to feel interesting without taking away from other kitchen elements.
Bathrooms
The balanced quality of Smokey Taupe makes it perfect for bathrooms. It adds a spa-like feeling that’s both clean and natural. In my guest bathroom, this color creates a calming space that guests often comment on.
With white fixtures, Smokey Taupe creates a crisp, fresh look that still feels warm and inviting. The subtle, warm tone works beautifully with plants, making bathroom spaces feel connected to nature.
What Colors Go Well with Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe?
- Crisp white: It creates a clean contrast that enhances the taupe
- Cream: Offers a soft pairing that feels natural
- Dark wood tones: Add warmth and balance to the neutral taupe
- Navy blue: It creates a classic contrast that feels rich
- Soft blush pink: Complements the taupe for a subtle, refined palette
For my living room, I combined Smokey Taupe walls with white trim and dark walnut furniture. The combination feels warm and grounded.
What Style Works Well with This Color?
Smokey Taupe adapts to many design styles. In modern homes, it brings in a subtle natural element that feels organic. For contemporary spaces, it creates a muted canvas that lets minimalist furniture stand out.
In farmhouse settings, it offers a fresh update while respecting classic elements. Most impressively, Smokey Taupe works well in traditional homes by adding subtle color to formal furniture.
My own home mixes modern items with more traditional ones, and this color creates the perfect subtle background for both. This flexibility makes it a smart choice if you like to change your decor or mix elements from different styles.
Is It a Warm or Cool Color?
Smokey Taupe is a balanced neutral that leans slightly warm. The subtle purple-brown undertones give it that soft, calming feeling. I’d describe it as “softly warm” – not the kind that makes a room feel stuffy or too cozy.
The taupe aspects keep it from feeling too warm or heavy. This balance makes it work well year-round in most homes. Despite being slightly warm, it doesn’t feel too brown like some taupe colors can.
The medium light value softens the warmth, making it more livable for everyday spaces. In rooms with lots of natural light, especially north-facing rooms, the warmth helps balance the coolness of the light throughout the day.
If you’re worried about a space feeling too warm, I’ve found that adding cool elements like white textiles, glass pieces, or silver fixtures creates the perfect balance. In my living room, the Smokey Taupe walls look beautiful with my cool blue accent pillows and gray area rug.
Color Characteristics Table
| Characteristic | BM Smokey Taupe | What This Means For Your Space |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Slightly Warm | Creates a soft, calming atmosphere |
| Undertones | Taupe with purple notes | Adds subtle depth without being too bold |
| Light Reflectance Value | 54.53 | Medium-light tone that reflects more light, creating brighter spaces |
| Seasonal Feel | Year-round | Works well in both winter and summer settings |
| North vs. South Rooms | Adaptable | Appears more gray in north-facing rooms, more warm in south-facing rooms |
How to Test This Color in Your Space?
- Buy a sample: Get a small container of BM Smokey Taupe
- Paint a board: Use a 2×2 foot piece of white poster board
- Move it around: See how it looks in different locations at different times of day
- Live with it for 3 days: Your first impression might change
When I tested Smokey Taupe, I was surprised by how different it looked from morning to evening. In my south-facing living room, it appeared more warm taupe. In my north-facing bedroom, the gray aspects were more noticeable.
What Paint Finish Should You Choose?
- Flat: Good for ceilings or very smooth walls
- Matte: My top choice for most walls – the soft color looks clean without glare
- Eggshell: This works in kitchens and bathrooms where you need to clean walls
- Satin: Adds a slight sheen, which could make the color look brighter than expected
- Semi-gloss: Too shiny for Smokey Taupe walls, but works for trim and doors
I used matte in my bedroom and eggshell in my kitchen. The eggshell finish makes cleaning easier without adding too much shine that would change how the color looks.
Real Home Ideas Using Smokey Taupe
I’ve gathered these ideas from my own home and friends’ houses:
- Full room: Smokey Taupe on all walls creates a consistent, calming feeling
- Accent wall: Used on one wall with lighter walls for a hint of color
- Trim: Using it on trim with white walls creates a subtle, custom look
- Furniture: A bookcase or side table painted this shade adds a soft touch
- Cabinets: Works beautifully as a cabinet color with light countertops
My sister painted all her kitchen cabinets Smokey Taupe with white countertops, creating a custom look that feels both clean and warm. It looks amazing and has inspired me to think about using it in more areas of my home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Use cool-toned lighting with Smokey Taupe – Cool bulbs can make this color look flat. Stick with warm white bulbs (2700-3000K) to showcase its true balanced beauty.
- Not testing in your actual space – This color changes with lighting conditions. I was surprised how different it looked in my north-facing bedroom versus my south-facing living room. Always test a large sample in your own space.
- Using too many warm accessories – This can make the room feel too heavy. Mix in some cool whites, blues, or silver accents for balance.
- Expecting it to look exactly like online photos – Every screen shows colors differently, and professional images are often edited. The only way to know how it will look in your home is to test it yourself.
- Using it in very dark rooms without considering how it looks – With its medium-light LRV of 54.53, Smokey Taupe works well in most spaces but can still look different based on your lighting. Make sure to test it in your specific lighting conditions.
Why Do People Like Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe?
Smokey Taupe has become popular among many homeowners, and I understand why. Its soft balance creates spaces with character while still feeling very livable.
People like it because it’s not a typical neutral—it has personality without being hard to use. The color creates spaces that feel connected to natural materials while still being clean.
It works with many decorating styles and doesn’t date quickly like bolder colors might. Whether in natural or artificial light, it maintains its character while shifting subtly throughout the day, keeping spaces interesting.
Is Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe Right For Your Home?
Smokey Taupe creates spaces that feel both natural and balanced at the same time. After using this color in multiple rooms over several months, I’m still happy with my choice.
What makes it stand out is how it adds subtle depth while remaining very flexible with different furniture and decor styles. It’s not a color that demands attention. Instead, it creates a backdrop that enhances your furniture and accessories.
This balanced presence explains why it remains popular season after season. In a world of stark whites and gray neutrals, Smokey Taupe offers gentle color and flexibility. It works with modern, traditional, farmhouse, and everything in between.
Is it subtle? Definitely, but it creates beautiful, livable spaces that feel clean and personal—and that’s what truly matters in the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does It Compare to Other Neutral Colors?
Smokey Taupe is more balanced with its purple undertones. It is less stark than pure grays and more neutral than most brown options. Because of its subtle purple influence, it has a more refined look than typical taupes.
Will This Color Show Dirt More than Other Neutrals?
It actually hides dirt better than lighter shades. The medium tone helps mask minor smudges better than very light colors would while still maintaining a fresh, clean appearance.
Can I Use Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe in An Open Floor Plan?
Absolutely. Its balanced quality makes it perfect for open concepts, creating flow between spaces while still offering more personality than plain neutrals. The subtle taupe helps connect different areas without feeling disjointed.
Does Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe Work Well With Wood Tones?
Smokey Taupe pairs beautifully with most wood tones, from light oak to dark walnut. Its neutral base complements the natural warmth of wood without competing, creating a harmonious, organic feel.
Is Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe Still Popular in Current Design Trends?
Yes, Smokey Taupe remains popular in 2025 design trends as people move toward natural, calming colors. Its timeless quality works well with both modern and traditional styles, making it a safe yet sophisticated choice.