Benjamin Moore Denim Wash 838
| Official page: | Denim Wash 838 |
| Code: | 838 |
| Name: | Denim Wash |
| Brand: | Benjamin Moore |
What color is Benjamin Moore Denim Wash?
Benjamin Moore's 838 Denim Wash is a versatile shade with the ability to create a calm and stylish atmosphere. This color pairs beautifully with soft neutrals like a warm beige or a crisp white to create a comforting and inviting space. For a bold contrast, consider pairing Denim Wash with a deep charcoal or a rich navy for a sophisticated look. Add accents of muted greens or blush pinks to complement the serene and elegant essence of this color. Overall, 838 Denim Wash offers a timeless and refined palette for any interior design project.
Benjamin Moore Denim Wash reviews
View the photos of real spaces painted with this that were not included in specific categories.Close-ups, painted furniture, storages and dressers, hallways, stairs and ceilings.
Try before you buy

100% accurate
reusable paint samples
Peel, stick,
and repeat
Twice painted
with real paint
Next day
delivery
What are Benjamin Moore Denim Wash undertones?
The undertone of Denim Wash can be accurately described as a Blue hue, as is apparent from the color space provided. By isolating the pure hue and eliminating any tints, tones, and shades, we were able to precisely determine its undertone. This approach has proven to be more accurate than traditional methods of defining undertones on a white background, which are now considered outdated.
HEX value
HEX value:
#85A0B6
RGB code:
133, 160, 182
Is Benjamin Moore Denim Wash 838 cool or warm?
With a hue of 207° thisBluerefers cool paint shade according to HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) on the color wheel.
838 Denim Wash HSL code: 207, 25%, 62%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color..
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
- Cooler hues have a calm and relaxation effect
- Cool blue shades make a room feel sleek, fresh, and modern, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices where a sense of calm and sophistication is desired.
- Using mid-tone cool colors like soft greys and muted blues can help create a calming and modern look in rooms like home offices, bathrooms, and bedrooms. But avoid using these shades in rooms without natural light, as they may look dull.
Act like a pro: Mixing warm and cool shades is a must have to get harmonius interior. Add accents that contrast with the primary color to create visual balance. If your walls are a warm color, don’t forget to add accent in cold colors (furniture, art, décor). A good practice is too use a complementary color scheme.
How light temperature affects Denim Wash
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural‑light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange‑red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange‑yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color‑temperature (Kelvins).
Use the slider to see how this Blue shade looks under different lighting:


4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Benjamin Moore Denim Wash:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Lighter shades
Darker shades
838
Denim Wash
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Denim Wash with a green hue, complementary colors are those with a red hue close to 27, such as Benjamin Moore Antique Pearl and Night Shade.
LRV of Denim Wash
Denim Wash has an LRV of 35.17% and refers to Medium colors that reflect a lot of light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 35.17%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you’ll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need. To copy the code, just click the icon to the right of it.
| Format | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #85A0B6 | |
| RGB Decimal | 133, 160, 182 | |
| RGB Percent | 52.16%, 62.75%, 71.37% | |
| HSV | Hue: 207° Saturation: 26.92% Value: 71.37% | |
| HSL | hsl(207, 25, 62) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 26.92 Magenta: 12.09 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 28.63 | |
| YIQ | Y: 154.435 I: -23.159 Q: 1.135 | |
| XYZ | X: 30.684 Y: 33.504 Z: 49.094 | |
| CIE Lab | L:64.567 a:-4.272 b:-14.453 | |
| CIE Luv | L:64.567 u:-14.677 v:-21.187 | |
| Decimal | 8757430 | |
| Hunter Lab | 57.883, -6.671, -9.769 |
Color equivalents
PPU14-07
Hawaiian Sky
Behr
S520-4
Private Jet
Behr
SW 6521
Notable Hue
Sherwin Williams

MQ5-51
Mystery
Behr
1677
Colonial Blue
Benjamin Moore

SW 9071
Dyer's Woad
Sherwin Williams
809
Soft Jazz
Benjamin Moore
PPU15-10
China Silk
Behr
SW 9064
Bluesy Note
Sherwin Williams
SW 9070
Baby Blue Eyes
Sherwin Williams
PPU14-08
Paris
Behr
SW 6528
Cosmos
Sherwin Williams
SW 9151
Daphne
Sherwin Williams

SW 9147
Favorite Jeans
Sherwin Williams

1670
Labrador Blue
Benjamin Moore

830
Harlequin Blue
Benjamin Moore







