Backwoods
Often used for its genuinely dark qualities, Backwoods remains a staple for Benjamin Moore designers. It is widely considered one of the best colors in its class to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. We've gathered 12 real-home scenarios to help you visualize this color alongside our expert data.
Hex
#586251
LRV
12.68
Backwoods in Real Rooms
Backwoods has a low LRV of 12.68 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color. It's neutral in temperature, making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Green family, the photos below show it applied in a kitchen cabinets, misc, kitchen and mudroom.
2 Kitchen Cabinets Photos
The way Backwoods interacts with under-cabinet lighting is transformative. It catches the glow and reflects a softer, more diffused light onto the countertops, making the workspace feel more inviting and less utilitarian.
Minimal kitchen cabinetry in Backwoods complements clean, contemporary design.
@susanyeleyhomes
Green kitchen cabinets in Backwoods add understated elegance to the workspace.
@the.hydrangea.haus
8 Misc Photos
Note how Backwoods is used as a "ceiling color" in some of these rooms. This "fifth wall" application is a bold designer move that can make a room feel infinitely more cozy and architecturally unique.
Storage pieces painted in Backwoods showcase this versatile, muted green.
@wescott_painting
1 Kitchen Photo
Kitchens are often the noisiest rooms in the house; Backwoods provides the visual equivalent of acoustic dampening. Its steady, calm presence helps lower the "volume" of the room, creating a more pleasant environment for cooking and conversation.
The kitchen island in Backwoods anchors this cooking area with calm authority.
@thedecorden_
1 Mudroom Photo
Backwoods in the mudroom earns its keep. It's a color that can handle the traffic — grounding enough to hide the daily chaos, and intentional enough to make the transition from outside feel considered and high-end.
Mudroom cabinets in Backwoods keep laundry storage both functional and stylish.
@nansrenovations
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 83 vs 13, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Fieldstone reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Backwoods encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 13, Dune White is decisively the brighter choice.
Boothbay Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Backwoods encloses it.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 14 and 13, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Complementary Colors
Iris Bliss reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 13), opening up a space where Backwoods encloses it.
Wild Orchid reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 13), opening up a space where Backwoods encloses it.
Carolina Plum reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 13), opening up a space where Backwoods encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (13 vs 6) makes Backwoods the marginally brighter of the two.
Easter Ribbon reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 13), opening up a space where Backwoods encloses it.
Lighter Colors
With LRVs of 15 and 13, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 8-point LRV gap (21 vs 13) makes Avon Green the marginally brighter of the two.
A 5-point LRV gap (18 vs 13) makes In the Garden the marginally brighter of the two.
Darker Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 10), so neither reads brighter in a room.