I’ve been living with Benjamin Moore’s Silver Marlin on my walls for about a year now, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about this soft, calming color. This blue-gray shade has changed my home in unexpected ways.
In this blog, you’ll learn:
- What Silver Marlin 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 several rooms with different light exposures and noticed how it shifts throughout the day. I’ve made the mistakes, so you don’t have to.
Let’s see if this soft, calming blue-gray is the perfect choice for your home.
What Kind of Color Is Silver Marlin?
Silver Marlin (Benjamin Moore 2139-50) is a soft, medium-depth blue-gray with subtle green undertones. It creates a calm background and adds a cool, relaxing feeling to any room. I see it as the color of a misty morning sky or water on an overcast day—quiet, balanced, and full of depth.
I’ve watched it change throughout the day. In morning light, it shows more of its blue character. By afternoon, the gray aspects become more noticeable, and in evening light, it takes on a deeper, more complex quality.
The color has an LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of 55.99, placing it in the medium-light range. This means it absorbs and reflects light in a way that adds character to a room without making it too dark. The balanced nature of Silver Marlin makes it perfect for creating spaces that feel both airy and cozy.
What sets Silver Marlin apart is its ability to create a sense of calm and a connection to water and sky. In most spaces, it adds a sense of tranquility and freshness with a depth that suits many settings and home styles.
What Rooms Work Best with Silver Marlin?
I’ve found that Silver Marlin works wonderfully in spaces where you want a clean, cool look that will last for years to come. Based on my experience, here are the spaces where Silver Marlin performs best:
Living Rooms
This color makes living spaces feel bright and welcoming. It creates a clean background that allows furniture and art to stand out nicely. In my living room, Silver Marlin walls make the space feel open while highlighting my navy sofa and wood accent pieces.
The color works especially well in spaces that need to feel open without being too stark. When paired with warm lighting, it creates a room that feels both fresh and comforting.
Bedrooms
Silver Marlin can transform bedrooms into calm, restful areas perfect for relaxation. I used it in my guest bedroom, where it created a peaceful atmosphere for rest and recovery. The blue-gray tones help create a pleasant feeling while still being more interesting than plain neutrals.
What surprised me is how well it works with different wood tones. My walnut nightstands look sharp against the Silver Marlin walls, while brass light fixtures bring warmth that balances the coolness of the walls. The room feels special yet comfortable.
Home Offices
Silver Marlin helps create a sense of focus and calm in work areas. The balanced blue-gray feels clean yet comfortable during long work hours. I painted my home office accent wall in this shade and find it creates the perfect background for video calls while keeping me relaxed and focused.
Silver Marlin is particularly suitable for offices that require a professional yet comfortable atmosphere. The color appears to add depth while aiding concentration. I’ve noticed I feel more productive in my Silver Marlin office compared to my previous, plain white workspace.
Bathrooms
This balanced blue-gray can add a touch of spa-like serenity to these functional spaces. I painted my small powder room Silver Marlin, and it feels both fresh and cozy. It works well for a space that needs to feel clean yet not stark.
The color pairs beautifully with white marble surfaces and chrome or brushed nickel fixtures. It adds just the right amount of color without being too overpowering, making it a smart choice for a room that needs to encourage relaxation and comfort.
Kitchens
Silver Marlin brings a refreshing yet classy feel to kitchen spaces. I used it on my kitchen island, creating a focal point that anchors the room without overwhelming it. The blue-gray tone feels clean and fresh, perfect for a food preparation area.
What works especially well is how Silver Marlin complements both light and dark countertops. With my white quartz counters, the blue-gray creates a crisp, fresh contrast.
What Colors Complement Silver Marlin?
- Crisp whites: They create a fresh contrast that feels clean and timeless
- Soft creams: Offer a subtle contrast that feels cohesive and calming
- Medium to light wood tones: Add organic texture and complementary warmth
- Navy blue accents: Create a deeper tone that enhances the blue undertones
- Gold and brass accents: Add a touch of warmth that balances the cool undertones
For my living room, I combined Silver Marlin walls with white trim and brass lighting fixtures. The combination feels both fresh and balanced.
What Style Works Well with This Color?
Silver Marlin accommodates various design styles. In modern homes, it brings a soft element that feels clean without being stark. For coastal spaces, it creates the perfect background for beach-inspired pieces. In transitional settings, it offers a clean quality that feels appropriate and grounded.
Most impressively, Silver Marlin complements homes that mix different styles by adding a calm presence to spaces that combine various elements.
My own home mixes contemporary items with more traditional ones, and this color creates the perfect 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?
Silver Marlin is a cool color with complex undertones. The blue-gray base lends it a fresh, clean feel, while the slight green elements add sophistication.
I’d describe it as “softly cool” – the kind that makes a room feel open rather than cold or stark. The gray aspects keep it from feeling too vibrant. This balance makes it work well year-round in most homes.
When used well, it doesn’t feel too cold despite its cool base. The depth keeps it livable for everyday spaces. In rooms with ample natural light, the balance helps it reveal its true character throughout the day.
If you’re worried that a space feels too cool, I’ve found that adding warmer elements, such as wood tones, fabric textures, or brass fixtures, creates the perfect balance. In my bedroom, the Silver Marlin walls look beautiful with my wood bed frame and brass lamps.
Color Characteristics Table
| Characteristic | Silver Marlin | What This Means For Your Space |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Cool | Creates a fresh, open atmosphere |
| Undertones | Blue-gray with slight green notes | Adds depth and sophistication |
| Light Reflectance Value | 55.99 | Reflects plenty of light to keep spaces bright and open |
| Seasonal Feel | Year-round | Works well in both summer and winter settings |
| North vs. South Rooms | Adaptable | Appears brighter in south-facing rooms, cooler in north-facing rooms |
How to Test This Color in Your Space?
- Buy a sample: Get a small container of Silver Marlin
- 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 Silver Marlin, I was surprised by the significant changes it underwent from morning to evening. In my north-facing bedroom, it seemed cooler and bluer. In my south-facing living room, it showed more of its gray aspects throughout the day.
What Paint Finish Should You Choose?
- Flat: Good for ceilings and walls with texture issues
- Matte: My top choice for most walls – the color looks soft without glare
- Eggshell: This works in kitchens and bathrooms, where you need to clean walls
- Satin: Adds a slight sheen, could make the color look slightly brighter
- Semi-gloss: Too shiny for Silver Marlin walls, but works for trim and doors
I used a matte finish in my bedroom and an eggshell finish in my bathroom. The eggshell finish makes cleaning easier without adding too much shine that would alter the color’s appearance.
Real Home Ideas Using Silver Marlin
- Accent wall: Silver Marlin on one wall creates a focal point that makes a room feel more open
- With white trim: Used with white trim colors for a crisp contrast
- Cabinets: Kitchen island or bathroom vanity in this shade creates a custom look
- Furniture: A bookcase or dresser painted this shade adds a clean touch
- Exterior: Works beautifully as an accent color for doors or shutters
My friend painted just one wall in her dining room, Silver Marlin with white trim, creating a balanced look that feels both fresh and grounded. It looks amazing and has inspired me to think about using it in more areas of my home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using it in rooms with very yellow lighting – This can cause Silver Marlin to look too green. Stick with balanced white bulbs (3000-4000K) to show their true beauty.
- Not testing in your actual space – This color may appear very different under various lighting conditions. I was surprised how it appeared in my north-facing bedroom versus my south-facing living room. Always test a large sample in your own space.
- Using too many cool accessories – This can make the room feel too cold. Add a touch of warm woods, soft textiles, or brass 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.
- Pairing with the wrong whites – Some whites can make Silver Marlin look too blue. Test white trim colors alongside your Silver Marlin sample to find the best match.
Why Do People Like Silver Marlin?
Silver Marlin has become popular among many homeowners, and I understand why. Its balanced quality creates spaces with depth while still feeling very livable. People like it because it’s not a basic gray—it has personality without being hard to use.
The color creates clean spaces that still feel cozy and inviting. It works with many decorating styles and doesn’t date quickly, unlike more trendy colors. Whether in natural or artificial light, it shifts throughout the day, keeping spaces interesting.
Is Silver Marlin Right For Your Home?
Silver Marlin creates spaces that feel both fresh and cozy simultaneously.
After using this color in multiple rooms over several months, I remain satisfied with my choice. What makes it stand out is how it adds character while remaining very flexible with different furniture and decor styles.
It’s not a color for those who want warm, toasty walls. Instead, it creates a foundation that supports your furniture and accessories while making a subtle statement of its own. This balanced presence explains why it remains a favorite choice year after year.
In a world of stark whites and plain grays, Silver Marlin is the ideal choice for those seeking to incorporate color with purpose. It works with modern, coastal, transitional, and many other styles.
It’s a truly versatile color that creates beautiful, livable spaces that feel fresh and personal, and that’s what truly matters in a home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Silver Marlin Work with A White Trim?
Yes, it pairs beautifully with a white trim. The cool, blue-gray creates a pleasing contrast with the pure white, which feels fresh and intentional.
Is Silver Marlin Too Dark for Small Rooms?
Not at all. With a medium-high Light Reflectance Value, it works very well in small spaces, as it reflects enough light to keep the room feeling open.
In small rooms, it can actually make the space feel more spacious and airy while still feeling finished. Its balanced color provides just enough depth to make spaces feel intentional rather than cramped.
How Does It Compare to Other Blue-Gray Paints?
Silver Marlin is more balanced and complex than many blue-grays, with subtle green undertones that add sophistication. It changes more throughout the day than many similar colors, showing different aspects as the light changes.
Will This Color Show Dirt Easily?
Unlike very light colors, Silver Marlin’s medium depth helps hide minor marks and smudges. The blue-gray tone actually conceals more than lighter colors would, though high-touch areas may still need occasional cleaning.
Can I Use Silver Marlin in An Open Floor Plan?
Yes, it works very well in open floor plans. Its balanced nature means it creates a cohesive look throughout connected spaces while still providing enough depth to define different areas. It pairs well with lighter neutrals to add variety within connected rooms.