About Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers

Smoke Embers (1466) is a gray from Benjamin Moore's collection with an LRV of 37.54 and warm gray-beige undertones. A medium warm gray with beige undertones. Darker and more substantial than Edgecomb Gray. A sophisticated mid-tone neutral.

Smoke Embers is a deeper color with an LRV of 37.54, meaning it absorbs more light than it reflects. This gives it real drama and sophistication. It works well on accent walls, exterior siding, front doors, cabinets, and architectural features where you want a bold statement. In a full room application, make sure you have adequate lighting and use bright white trim to prevent the space from feeling too dark.

Light Reflectance Value (LRV)

Smoke Embers has an LRV of 37.54, placing it in the medium-dark range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.

0 (Pure Black)37.54 · Smoke Embers100 (Pure White)

Undertone Analysis

Smoke Embers has warm gray-beige undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.

A medium warm gray with beige undertones. Darker and more substantial than Edgecomb Gray. A sophisticated mid-tone neutral. Warm undertones like these pair naturally with other warm elements: honey-toned wood floors, brass and gold hardware, cream-colored textiles, and warm-toned furnishings. They can clash with strongly cool elements like icy blue accents or chrome fixtures, though the effect depends on the strength of the undertone.

Lighting Behavior

Reads as a warm, grounding medium gray in most conditions. The beige warmth prevents it from feeling cold. Good depth for accent walls or whole rooms with bright trim.

Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Smoke Embers with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.

Best Rooms for Smoke Embers

Benjamin Moore recommends Smoke Embers for: living room, bedroom, office, dining room, accent wall.

On an accent wall, Smoke Embers creates a focal point that draws the eye and adds visual depth to the room. Pair it with a lighter color on the remaining walls for the best contrast.

Closest Matches in Other Brands

Find the closest equivalent to Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.

Sherwin Williams Matches

Mindful Gray SW 7016
Good match · ΔE 3.5

Mindful Gray is very similar. Both are warm medium grays. Close enough for cross-brand matching.

View all Sherwin Williams matches →

Behr Matches

Studio Taupe PPU5-06
Good match · ΔE 4.8

Studio Taupe is close in depth but slightly warmer and more taupe.

View all Behr matches →

Coordinating Colors

These colors pair beautifully with Smoke Embers for a cohesive palette. Use them for trim, accents, adjacent rooms, or furniture to create a well-designed space.

Frequently Asked Questions

The closest Sherwin Williams match for Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers is Mindful Gray (SW 7016) with a Delta E of 3.5, which rates as a "good match" match. Mindful Gray is very similar. Both are warm medium grays. Close enough for cross-brand matching. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart, while 2 to 4 means the difference is subtle.

Smoke Embers has warm gray-beige undertones. A medium warm gray with beige undertones. Darker and more substantial than Edgecomb Gray. A sophisticated mid-tone neutral. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.

Smoke Embers (1466) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 37.54, which puts it in the medium-dark range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 37.54, this is a darker color that creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pair it with bright white trim for the best contrast.

Smoke Embers leans warm. The warm gray-beige undertones give it a cozy, inviting quality. It pairs naturally with other warm elements like wood tones, brass hardware, and cream textiles. In north-facing rooms, the warmth is especially welcoming.

Colors on screen are approximations. Monitor settings, lighting, and screen calibration affect how colors appear. Always test with a physical paint sample before purchasing.

Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.