ColorplanBenjamin Moore Athena (858) is a light warm gray (greige) with a warm yellow undertone and an LRV of 69. Closest matches: Sherwin-Williams City Loft (SW 7631), Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone (No.241) and Behr Silver Drop (790C-2). For trim, try White (OC-151).
Room Preview
This photo shows walls only. Photos show the color in a real room's light; your own light will change it.
Suggested trim and ceiling are Benjamin Moore whites that share this color's undertone.
Color Details
| Family | Gray |
| LRV | 69.5 (light; 0 = black, 100 = pure white) |
| HEX | #DDD9CE |
| RGB | 221, 217, 206 |
| HSL | 44°, 18%, 84% |
About Athena
Athena (858) is a light warm gray (greige) from Benjamin Moore with a warm yellow undertone. With an LRV of 69, Athena has visible color without darkening a room much.
In north-facing rooms the cool daylight tones down Athena's warmth, so it can read a little grayer; south- and west-facing light brings the warmth forward. It's a good fit for open-plan living areas, hallways, living rooms and bedrooms. It's very close to Pale Oak (OC-20); you'd mostly see the difference side by side.
How Athena changes with the light
Athena has a fairly balanced undertone: it shifts a little cooler in north light and a little warmer in afternoon west light, which makes it an easy choice for most rooms.
North-facing rooms
In north light Athena will look a little cooler and grayer than on the chip.
East-facing rooms
Athena will look warmer and brighter in the morning and cooler and grayer by afternoon; check a sample at both times.
South-facing rooms
Bright south light shows Athena close to its true color, slightly lighter and warmer.
West-facing rooms
Athena will glow warmer in the late afternoon.
See Athena in real homes
Photos people have shared of Athena in their own rooms. Opens Instagram or Pinterest in a new tab.
Athena equivalents in other brands
The closest color from each brand. ΔE (“delta E”) scores how different two colors look: under 2.5 is very hard to tell apart on a wall, over 5 is clearly different.
Sherwin-Williams
Very close · ΔE 1.2
Also close: Egret White (ΔE 1.2)
Compare side by side →Farrow & Ball
Very close · ΔE 1.3
Also close: School House White (ΔE 1.7)
Compare side by side →Behr
Nearly identical · ΔE 0.5
Also close: Soft Focus (ΔE 1.6)
Compare side by side →Similar Benjamin Moore colors
Athena questions
What undertone does Athena have?
Athena has a warm yellow undertone, so it reads as a warm color. In north-facing rooms the cool daylight tones down Athena's warmth, so it can read a little grayer; south- and west-facing light brings the warmth forward.
Is Athena a light or dark color?
Athena has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 69.5 on a scale where 0 is black and 100 is pure white, which makes it a light color. With an LRV of 69, Athena has visible color without darkening a room much.
What is the closest match to Athena in other paint brands?
Sherwin-Williams: City Loft SW 7631 (very close, ΔE 1.2); Farrow & Ball: Skimming Stone No.241 (very close, ΔE 1.3); Behr: Silver Drop 790C-2 (nearly identical, ΔE 0.5). Matches are calculated with the CIEDE2000 color difference formula; always check a physical sample before buying.
What trim and ceiling color goes with Athena?
Try White (OC-151) on trim and Distant Gray (OC-68) on the ceiling. Both are Benjamin Moore whites that share Athena's undertone.
Where does Athena work best?
Athena works well in open-plan living areas, hallways, living rooms and bedrooms. With an LRV of 69, Athena has visible color without darkening a room much.
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