Our Review of October Mist by Benjamin Moore

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Green exterior paint colors have been trending for a few years now — and for good reason. They connect us to nature, anchoring our home with a sense of calm and peace. October Mist by Benjamin Moore is no different. A light sage green reminiscent of flower stems, according to Benjamin Moore, October Mist is a fantastic choice for a home’s exterior. It’s a subtle nod to nature without being too dramatic or bold. It’s perfect for those looking to stray away from neutrals for the first time.

From our recommended color pairings to the more technical details like LRV and undertones, keep reading to learn all about October Mist by Benjamin Moore.

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Contemporary home virtually painted in October Mist by Benjamin Moore with wood columns and white windows.

Benjamin Moore’s October Mist: The specs

Benjamin Moore’s October Mist is a light green shade with an LRV of 46.54. (Curious about LRV? Learn more here, including why LRV is so important to keep in mind when choosing the perfect paint color for your home.)

Throughout the day, you might notice October Mist appear differently. In low light, it may read a bit darker than what you see during the daytime. Gray undertones will also be more noticeable during low light. This gray is what softens October Mist’s appearance and gives it a tranquil feel.

WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND SAMPLING AND TESTING PAINT COLORS BEFORE COMMITTING. FACTORS SUCH AS NATURAL LIGHTING, UNDERTONES, AND YOUR PROPERTY’S FIXED ELEMENTS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW A COLOR WILL APPEAR ON YOUR EXTERIOR. OUR FRIENDS AT SAMPLIZE OFFER EXTRA-LARGE 9 X 14.75 INCH PEEL-AND-STICK PAINT SAMPLES OF THE COLORS WE LOVE FOR EXTERIORS. ORDER YOUR ‘REAL PAINT, NO MESS’ SAMPLES FROM SAMPLIZE HERE.

A traditional farmhouse with a metal roof, wood portico columns, white trim, and black windows.

Recommended applications for October Mist

One of the reasons our designers love Benjamin Moore’s October Mist is because of how lovely it looks on different textures and building materials. For instance, in the design above, October Mist was applied to the James Hardie vertical siding. The vertical lines keep the muted color from appearing flat and one-dimensional. You can also see texture throughout the metal roof, stone cladding on the skirting and entry, and the cedar columns.

Additionally, our designers have applied October Mist to quite a few home styles with gorgeous results. Whether you’re looking to update a coastal Craftsman or a traditional rancher, it would be an excellent color to consider.

A traditional rancher virtually painted in October Mist by Benjamin Moore with white trim and a white pergola.

October Mist color pairings

When it comes to color pairings, October Mist provides more options than you might think. It tends to look best when paired with neutrals like whites, blacks, and grays. However, when combined with darker greens, the color palette can take on an interesting monochromatic style that looks wonderful on contemporary and mid-century modern homes.

October Mist can also look stunning with a light green-blue like Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams on a beach bungalow. For a preppy look, try October Mist with a rich hue such as Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy and a crisp white on the trim and windows.

Craftsman style home with dark red brick, wood accents, and a light sage green door.

October Mist can also be paired with natural brick. Anytime we discuss an exterior paint color that can easily be paired with brick, we make sure to emphasize it. Red and green are complementary colors, so a hue like October Mist effortlessly accentuates the brick.

Above, Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster can be seen on the siding, and an earthy brown, Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams, was applied to the eaves, trim, and windows. We used October Mist as an accent on the door.

Split-level home with natural red brick, white columns, and wood lintels.

On the home above, October Mist on the siding and trim help to soften the brick seen on the first story. October Mist enhances the red without overwhelming it. Warm touches of copper on the light fixtures, awning, gutters, and landscape lighting ground the façade with darker tones. The design is complete with an updated front door in black, black windows, and coordinating furniture and planters.

A white one-story rancher with light sage green garage doors, a wood stained pergola, and wood window boxes.

Pros and cons of Benjamin Moore’s October Mist

PROS:

  • Can be applied as a central or accent color
  • Will look great on many home styles
  • Complements natural brick

CONS:

  • May be too light for those who want a bolder look

October Mist alternatives

Benjamin Moore’s October Mist is an excellent choice to introduce a bit of color to the exterior of your home without being too strong. Below, we share a few paint colors that are equally as striking and a tad more saturated.

A two-story home with wood look garage doors, a tall portico with columns, and off-white vertical siding.

Sherwin Williams’ Evergreen Fog vs. October Mist

Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams is another sage green, although it is darker (LRV of 30) and cooler than October Mist. Both have gray undertones that soften their profiles, perfect for toning down harsh architectural details or balancing organic materials like stone and wood. Evergreen Fog is so well-loved that Sherwin William’s named it their 2022 color of the year, and we’ve named it one of the best Sherwin Williams paint colors of 2023.

As a ‘chameleon color,’ Evergreen Fog’s appearance will subtly shift throughout the day. For example, its gray tones will be more noticeable in the shade. In the afternoon light, it can read slightly warmer. Color pairing options for Evergreen Fog are similar to October Mist. Oftentimes our designers use wood in dark and light finishes, light or dark gray colors, browns, blacks, and soft and crisp whites. Seapearl by Benjamin Moore is our go-to white to design with Evergreen Fog.

Home styles that shine when rendered in Evergreen Fog aren’t hard to list because there are so many. It looks best on Craftsman homes but can be just as charming on cabins and traditional homes. As an accent color, Evergreen Fog is lovely on the doors or shutters of cottages and even colonials.

A dark green-brown elevated home with black garage doors, railings, and columns.

Sherwin Williams’ Anonymous vs. October Mist

Anonymous by Sherwin Williams is a darker and moodier option among the sage-leaning green paint colors. Its LRV is 20, 10 points darker than Evergreen Fog (30) and more than 20 points darker than October Mist (46.54). Complementing colors for Anonymous are somewhat limited, but there’s still plenty to choose from.

Anonymous is an interesting color in that it takes on different characteristics depending on its surrounding environment and colors it’s paired with. With a bright white on the trim and windows, Anonymous leans more toward a true sage for a classic and traditional style. When it’s surrounded by a lush landscape, it can appear as a darker grayish sage. If wood and natural brown stone are used on a home with Anonymous, the brown undertones will be more obvious.

Some might consider it a difficult shade to work with because of this trait. We think it’s what makes Anonymous unique and versatile enough to flex to the many different preferences and personalities of homeowners.

A soft-white traditional one story home with shutter and trim virtually painted in Benjamin Moore's October Mist.

The bottom line on October Mist

October Mist by Benjamin Moore is a beautiful light sage green that exudes a serene and tranquil feel on a home’s exterior. It’s outstanding on a diverse selection of home styles, can be applied as a central or accent color with ease, and won’t experience much color shifting throughout the day. It’s the perfect option if you’re looking to step away from strictly neutrals without going too bold. Finally, its versatility and ability to go well with red brick, greens, blacks, whites, blues, and browns make it a breeze to work with.

October Mist might be just the paint color you’re searching for! If you’re ready to see it on your own home, your answers to our short questionnaire is all we need for our designers to start creating a custom design for your home exterior. We’ll even provide a shoppable resource list so getting started is as easy as clicking a few links. Get started here.

Author

Originally from Tennessee, Ami currently lives in South Carolina, which has been home since leaving the military in 2016. Interior and exterior design has always intrigued Ami, especially the styles and characteristics seen in other countries as an avid traveler and photographer. She lives for the renewal of older or historic homes that maintain their character, and regularly creates her own mood boards and virtual designs for inspiration or to help others with their spaces. Having always had a passion for design and following their work for years prior, Ami was excited to be brought onto brick&batten’s team of writers. Her writing endeavors actually started in an academic/scientific setting, then in a regulatory aspect. Writing about paint colors, emerging or current trends in exterior design, and so much more revolving around something she’s always enjoyed was a fun and welcomed change!

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