Color trends are weird. One year everyone wants a house that looks like a sterile hospital wing in "Millennial Gray," and the next, we're all obsessed with earthy terracottas that feel like a 1970s sunken living room. But honestly? Some colors just ignore the trend cycle entirely. Benjamin Moore Colonial Blue (technically 1677) is one of those steady, reliable heavyweights. It’s the paint equivalent of a well-worn denim jacket. It doesn't care if it's "in" because it’s never really "out."
If you’ve been scrolling through design boards, you might have noticed a shift back toward "New Traditional" or "Grandmillennial" styles. People are tired of boring beige. They want depth. Colonial Blue delivers that depth without making your living room feel like a dark cave or a teenager's bedroom. It’s sophisticated. It’s moody, but not depressing. Basically, it’s a blue for grown-ups who still want their house to feel cozy.
What Is Benjamin Moore Colonial Blue, Exactly?
Let’s get technical for a second. Colonial Blue 1677 is part of the Benjamin Moore Classics collection. It has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 28.31. If that number sounds like gibberish, just know that LRV is a scale from 0 to 100. Zero is black; 100 is pure white. At roughly 28, this is a medium-to-dark shade. It’s not a "bright" blue. It’s heavily desaturated with gray and has a distinct green undertone that prevents it from looking like a primary color.
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That green-gray backbone is the secret sauce.
When you put a "pure" blue on a wall, it often ends up looking like a nursery or a swimming pool. It’s too much. Colonial Blue avoids this by being "dusty." In certain lights, especially north-facing rooms with that weak, blue-ish natural light, it can lean quite cool and stony. In a sun-drenched, south-facing kitchen, those green undertones wake up, making the color feel much more organic and lush. It’s a chameleon.
Why It’s Better Than "Safe" Grays
We’ve all been there. You pick a safe gray because you're scared of commitment. Three weeks later, your house looks like a parking garage. Benjamin Moore Colonial Blue offers a way out of the "greige" trap. It provides enough pigment to be a statement, but enough gray to act as a neutral.
Think about your furniture.
Warm wood tones—think honey oak, cherry, or even dark walnut—look absolutely incredible against this specific blue. The orange and red tones in the wood are complementary to the blue on the color wheel. They pop. They sing. If you have an old antique chest of drawers that looks "meh" against a white wall, throw some Colonial Blue behind it. Suddenly, that piece of furniture looks like a million bucks.
Where to Use It (And Where to Avoid It)
I’ve seen people use this color in some bold ways. A popular choice right now is the "color drenching" technique. This is where you paint the walls, the baseboards, the trim, and even the ceiling the same color. With Colonial Blue, this creates a literal velvet box effect. It’s stunning for a home office or a library. It focuses the mind. It’s calm.
- Kitchen Cabinets: This is probably the most "on-trend" use for it right now. If you want a break from white shaker cabinets but aren't ready for the "goth" look of black or charcoal, this blue is the sweet spot. It hides fingerprints remarkably well.
- The Front Door: First impressions matter. A Colonial Blue front door against a white or light gray house exterior is classic. It says, "I have my life together," even if you’re currently wearing pajamas inside.
- Dining Rooms: Because it’s a darker hue, it creates a sense of intimacy. Under candlelight or dim overhead pendants, the walls recede, and the focus stays on the people at the table.
Now, a word of caution. Don't put this in a tiny, windowless bathroom unless you want it to feel like a submarine. Darker colors need a little bit of light to breathe. If the room is pitch black, the color will just look like a muddy, nondescript dark mass. You need at least one decent window or some high-quality 3000K LED lighting to let the blue-green nuances show up.
The Trim Dilemma: What White Works?
Choosing the right white for your trim is where most people mess up their paint job. If you pick a white that’s too "creamy" or yellow, it can make Benjamin Moore Colonial Blue look a bit dirty. If you pick something too "stark" and blue-white, the room can feel clinical and cold.
Most pros will point you toward Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. It’s a very clean, neutral white that doesn't have strong undertones. It lets the blue be the star. If you want something a tiny bit softer, Cloud White is a solid backup. It has just enough warmth to keep the room feeling lived-in without clashing with the cool base of the blue.
Comparisons: Colonial Blue vs. The Rivals
It’s easy to get lost in the fan deck. You might be looking at Hale Navy or Philipsburg Blue and wondering why you should stick with Colonial Blue.
- Hale Navy (HC-154): This is much darker. It’s almost black in some lights. If you want high drama, go with Hale Navy. If you want to actually see the blue during the day, stay with Colonial Blue.
- Philipsburg Blue (HC-159): This is a close cousin. Philipsburg is slightly lighter and a bit more "true blue." It feels a little more historical and "Early American." Colonial Blue has a bit more "grit" and gray in it, which makes it feel slightly more modern.
- Van Courtland Blue (HC-145): This is much lighter and more "airy." It’s great for a bedroom if you find Colonial Blue too intimidatingly dark.
Real Talk About the Finish
Don't buy the cheapest paint. Seriously. A color with this much pigment needs a high-quality base to look right. If you use a low-grade flat paint, it’s going to scuff if you even look at it wrong.
For walls, go with an Eggshell or Matte finish in the Regal Select or Aura lines. The Aura line is expensive—yeah, it hurts the wallet—but it’s specifically designed for dark, rich colors. It prevents "burnishing," which is that shiny streak you get when you rub against a dark wall. For cabinets or trim, always go Satin or Semi-Gloss. The slight sheen makes the blue look "expensive" and helps it stand up to the wear and tear of daily life.
Correcting the Myths
There’s this weird myth that dark blues make a room feel small. It’s actually the opposite. Because dark colors like Benjamin Moore Colonial Blue absorb light rather than reflecting it, the corners of the room "disappear." This can actually make a space feel more expansive because your eyes aren't constantly hitting the boundaries of the walls. It creates depth where there was none.
Another misconception? That blue is "cold." While blue is technically on the cool side of the spectrum, the green and gray in this specific shade provide a "weight" that feels grounding. It’s not the icy blue of a glacier; it’s the deep blue of the Atlantic on a cloudy day. It’s comforting.
Actionable Steps for Your Project
If you're staring at your walls and feeling paralyzed, stop. Here is how you actually do this without ending up with "painter's remorse."
- Buy a Samplize sheet. Don't paint those tiny little squares on your wall yet. Get the peel-and-stick samples. Move them around. Look at them at 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 9:00 PM. The change in color will surprise you.
- Check your light bulbs. If you have "Soft White" bulbs (which are very yellow), they will turn Colonial Blue into a murky teal. Switch to "Bright White" or "Cool White" bulbs to see the actual color you paid for.
- Prime properly. If you are painting over a light color, you might need two or three coats to get the full depth of this blue. If you’re painting over a dark red or green, use a tinted primer. It saves you time and money in the long run.
- Consider the ceiling. If the room is large, a crisp white ceiling provides a nice "cap" to the dark walls. In a smaller room, consider painting the ceiling a very light gray or even a 50% "diluted" version of the Colonial Blue to keep the eye moving.
This color isn't a "safe" choice in the way that white is, but it’s a "safe" choice for anyone who actually wants a home with personality. It’s timeless. It’s sturdy. It’s been around for decades for a reason. Whether you’re painting an entire library or just a small vanity in a powder room, it brings a sense of history and calm that’s hard to find in the latest "color of the year" fads.
Grab a brush. Just do it. You won't regret the depth it brings to your home.