Charcoal Slate vs Providence Blue

Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Hue-wise, Charcoal Slate belongs to the grey family and Providence Blue to the blue-grey family. Providence Blue (LRV 19) reflects noticeably more light than Charcoal Slate (LRV 15), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean blue, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 8.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Charcoal Slate vs Providence Blue in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. Charcoal Slate and Providence Blue are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

Living Room

In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Providence Blue gives the walls a little more lift.

Charcoal SlateBenjamin Moore HC-178 living room fireplace

@mlevac_design

Providence BlueBenjamin Moore Providence Blue Living Room Fireplace

@the_woodys_place

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Providence Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Charcoal SlateBenjamin Moore Charcoal Slate bedroom color review

@nickysinteriorpainting

Providence BlueBenjamin Moore AC-24 bedroom paint review

@jfinteriordesigns

Dining Room

A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Providence Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Charcoal SlateHc-178 Dining Room Accent Wall

@we_bought_a_house_

Providence BlueBenjamin Moore AC-24 dining room color review

@nataliecoxcpi

Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Providence Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Charcoal SlateBenjamin Moore HC-178 bathroom wall panelling

@little_blueberry_homestead

Providence BlueBenjamin Moore Providence Blue bathroom vanity color review

@engelvolkersatlanta

House

Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Providence Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Charcoal SlateBenjamin Moore HC-178 house exterior review

@tjspaintingcompany

Providence BlueProvidence Blue house exterior color

@tophergram67

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Providence Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Charcoal SlateCharcoal Slate kitchen cabinets

@designit.buildit

Providence BlueProvidence Blue kitchen cabinets photo

@stead_kitchen_design

Color Details

Charcoal Slate
Benjamin Moore · HC-178
Hex#646769
LRV14.5
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberHC-178
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Providence Blue
Benjamin Moore · 1636
Hex#66797F
LRV19.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1636
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

Charcoal Slate vs Providence Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Charcoal Slate on one side and Providence Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More Charcoal Slate comparisons

See how Charcoal Slate stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Charcoal Slate
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Charcoal Slate
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Charcoal Slate
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Charcoal Slate reads slightly lighter

Purbeck Stone
Charcoal Slate
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Charcoal Slate
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Charcoal Slate
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Charcoal Slate
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Charcoal Slate
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Charcoal Slate
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Charcoal Slate
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Charcoal Slate
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Charcoal Slate
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Charcoal Slate
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Charcoal Slate reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Charcoal Slate
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Charcoal Slate
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Charcoal Slate reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Charcoal Slate
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Charcoal Slate
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Charcoal Slate
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Charcoal Slate
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Charcoal Slate
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Charcoal Slate reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Charcoal Slate
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Charcoal Slate
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Charcoal Slate
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Charcoal Slate
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Charcoal Slate reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Charcoal Slate
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Charcoal Slate
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Charcoal Slate
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Charcoal Slate
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Charcoal Slate
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Charcoal Slate
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Nearly identical in tone