Last week on a whim, I painted our downstairs bathroom Benjamin Moore Hale Navy! Talk about making great decisions on the fly. This makeover could have gone all wrong, but luckily I used a navy paint thought by many to be the best shade of blue Benjamin Moore offers.
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Benjamin Moore Hale Navy: King of Navy Paints
When it comes to paint colors, in most cases it’s best to go with the tried and true. There is a reason why some paint colors reign supreme and become designers’ go to shades, while others are little known. These popular paint colors just work best in most lights, in most rooms, with most styles.
The designer favorite Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, is seen on our bathroom vanity below:
Shop: Mirror | Sconce | Framed Flag
What Are The Undertones of BM Hale Navy?
Nothing worse than buying a few gallons of paint only for it to turn violet on you. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy has some sophisticated dark gray undertones, but mostly it is just a deep, rich blue.
You could dozens of various shades of white with this paint and they will all look great! It looks great with crisp white and creamy off white. Light grays and natural wood tones would also look great together with Hale Navy.
Is Hale Navy a Warm or Cool Paint?
It has both cool and warm undertones, meaning this paint is so versatile it will look great in both types of rooms.
Do you have cool tones in your home or face North? Hale Navy will look fantastic there. Mostly warm tones or brass lighting throughout? Hale Navy will shine in those rooms too!
Is Hale Navy Too Dark For North Facing, Dark Rooms?
Whenever you use any dark paint, make sure you have some white in the room. This is especially true in smaller or north facing rooms.
You need help to reflect light and bounce it around. White countertops, white walls, white drapes, etc. Dark colors pop when contrasting with something white next to it. Case in point: my small bathroom, which faces north, with 1 very small window.
I paired Hale Navy with my shiplap that is painted Sherwin Williams Extra White: a crisp, true white. (You can read more about Sherwin Williams Extra White in my home here).
Actually, you will notice in most of these photos there is a lot of white (not necessarily stark white – it could be a cream too!) in the room. Not only does this make the navy pop, but it also keeps the dark color from overpowering the room.
What about black? Do black and navy clash? This paint is light enough to be distinguished from the black and hold its own. See case in point below:
Similar stools here
Black stool, black window casing, black stove… and Hale Navy cabinets on the kitchen island as the stunning show stopper!
Hale Navy Kitchen Cabinets
During this decade we’ve started to see white kitchens using darker moodier accent colors. (Read about all the 2022 kitchen trends here). Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on cabinets is extremely popular as a cabinet color, especially with white countertops. This makes an excellent paint color choice if you are ready for some drama!
Those that aren’t ready to give up a white kitchen but want something new? Painting only the kitchen cabinets on the island, or just the lower kitchen cabinets with Hale Navy and leaving the uppers white can take your kitchen to the next level!
Related: 15 Blue Kitchen Islands + Their Paint Colors, Seen Here!
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy and Brass Hardware
Another question is what kind of hardware to use on hale navy cabinets? Brass and navy are a dream team together.
Source: Kountry Kraft
This custom cabinet company created a stunning kitchen here using Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, and a gorgeous marble backsplash.
See the stools they used here:
Source: Bria Hammel
In this darker room, Hale Navy looks much more gray. Still just as lovely!
Blue stripe pillow here / Plaid pillows here and similar here:
Source: Laura_Cadenhead on Instagram
See her X-Back stools for sale here
Source: Holst Brothers
Source: Benjamin Moore
Shop The Stools and Similar Basket Lights Here:
Source: Studio McGee
Source: Home With B
Affordable round mirror here:
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy and Nickel Hardware
Hale Navy has charcoal gray undertones, making it look equally great with silver hardware.
Let’s take a look at Hale Navy cabinets with cooler nickel tones now…
Source: Modern Cottage Collective
Her nickel pendants perfect in this space. Shop them here.
Source: Cindy Kramer
Source: Sealy Design
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Source: Studio McGee
Hale Navy Front Door
When you have a Hale Navy front door, the deep color will look great with autumn florals, a copper roof, or crisp white flowers right outside.
Looking for that soft gray blue that almost reads white… but not quite? Read about Sherwin Williams Ice Cube here.
Hale Navy Exterior
Next to a crisp white house, I do love a navy exterior on a home. It looks especially cozy with a gray roof to bring out the charcoal undertones.
But, on the other hand, it also looks nice with warm, browner roofs.
Hale Navy looks nautical on this lakefront home, contrasting against medium gray stonework.
This classic Victorian home is all Benjamin Moore paints. Featuring Hale Navy exterior siding, Oxford White trim, Aura on the shutters and window trim, and Comet on the porch floor.
Look how nice it looks next to the gray roof. It brings out a lot of the gray undertones in the navy.
Photo Source: Interiors By Color
This Hale Navy exterior is charming with the warm wood front door.
Photo Source: McLlveen Lumber
The roof has shades of brown in it, but the crisp white trim keep the home from looking dark. Lovely!
Are you starting to see how Hale Navy goes with everything?
In general, picking paint colors is tricky because they depend on so many factors in your home. Lighting, the direction your home faces, etc.
Thankfully, neither of these are of much concern with Hale Navy! It might look slightly different in one room to the next – but it always looks great!
Another must read: White Paint Colors In My Home, or Paint My Kitchen Island Blue, or Building Our Home. I hope you found this article helpful. Happy painting!
