Santa Monica Blue
Santa Monica Blue is a genuinely dark Blue from Benjamin Moore. Our real-world data shows it is a primary choice when homeowners need to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. Below, you'll find 16 examples of this shade in actual homes along with suggested color relationships.
Hex
#3A6E8C
LRV
16.08
Santa Monica Blue in Real Rooms
Santa Monica Blue has a low LRV of 16.08 — 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 Blue family, the photos below show it applied in a kitchen cabinets, living room, front door, house, misc, dining room and home office.
4 Kitchen Cabinets Photos
Cabinet color commits in a way wall color doesn't — it reads from every angle and dominates the room's material palette. Santa Monica Blue earns that commitment. It pairs with hardware in brass, matte black, or unlacquered bronze without fighting any of them.
Kitchen cabinetry finished in charming Santa Monica Blue.
@majesticpaintscapes
Pale blue kitchen cabinets bring Santa Monica Blue sophistication.
@majesticpaintscapes
Soft blue cabinetry painted in elegant Santa Monica Blue.
@majesticpaintscapes
Island cabinets painted in classic Santa Monica Blue.
@tracytesmerdr
3 Living Room Photos
Few colors transition as gracefully from day to evening as Santa Monica Blue. In natural light, it reads clean, grounded, and modern; by candlelight or lamp, it deepens into something much more soulful. For a living room that needs to function as a bright morning coffee spot and a moody evening lounge, that tonal range is an invaluable asset.
Living room walls glow in peaceful Santa Monica Blue.
@thestellarstory
Serene Santa Monica Blue wraps the living room in calm comfort.
@mvndesign
Cozy living space painted in inviting Santa Monica Blue throughout.
@nestinginthevalley
2 Front Door Photos
Choosing Santa Monica Blue for your entry is an exercise in restraint and elegance. It suggests a home that is well-cared for and curated, setting a high bar for the interior design before the door is even opened.
Wooden front door painted in Santa Monica Blue creates a striking entryway.
@davidrealtordc
This front door in Santa Monica Blue adds coastal charm to the home.
@davidrealtordc
1 House Photo
In suburban environments, Santa Monica Blue provides a sophisticated point of difference. It stands out from the sea of beige and grey without being "that house" that's too loud. It's the subtle, high-end choice that improves the curb appeal of the entire block.
House exterior painted Santa Monica Blue provides a bold, welcoming appeal.
@herbertpainting
4 Misc Photos
Observe the use of Santa Monica Blue on architectural "oddities"—slanted ceilings, built-in nooks, or under-stair closets. The color helps these strange angles feel like deliberate design features rather than construction afterthoughts.
Accent wall in Santa Monica Blue anchors the room with cool sophistication.
@jkpaintingcontractors
Door frame finished in Santa Monica Blue draws the eye immediately.
@thejoyfulhomeco
Wall painted in Santa Monica Blue transforms the entire room's atmosphere.
@helenhanavich
Furniture piece painted Santa Monica Blue becomes a striking focal point.
@hyltoncustomwoodworks
1 Dining Room Photo
Santa Monica Blue encourages conversation. Its calm, grounded presence creates a sense of safety and comfort that allows guests to relax and stay at the table longer, which is the ultimate goal of any well-designed dining area.
Dining room walls in Santa Monica Blue enhance the intimate gathering space.
@jkpaintingcontractors
1 Home Office Photo
The transition from "home life" to "work life" can be signaled by the color of the room. Entering a space painted in Santa Monica Blue provides a mental shift, telling your brain that it's time to settle in and be productive.
Home office painted Santa Monica Blue promotes focus and calm productivity.
@baao_architects
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 71 vs 16, Summer Harvest is decisively the brighter choice.
Distant Gray reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 16), opening up a space where Santa Monica Blue encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 16, Cloud Cover is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 16, Wickham Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 16 and 14, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 17 and 16, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 16 and 14, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 17 and 16, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Complementary Colors
Quietly Violet reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 16), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 4-point LRV gap (16 vs 12) makes Santa Monica Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Hint of Violet reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 16), opening up a space where Santa Monica Blue encloses it.
At LRV 72 vs 16, Antique Pearl is decisively the brighter choice.
Santa Monica Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 17 and 16, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Silver Fox reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 16), opening up a space where Santa Monica Blue encloses it.
Lighter Colors
Poolside reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 16), opening up a space where Santa Monica Blue encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (22 vs 16) makes Finley Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 18 and 16, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Randolph Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 16), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Darker Colors
A 9-point LRV gap (16 vs 7) makes Santa Monica Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Santa Monica Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 11), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 16 and 14, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 16 vs 15), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 16 and 14, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.