Smokey Taupe vs Skimming Stone

Smokey Taupe is a Benjamin Moore color while Skimming Stone comes from Farrow & Ball. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. At LRV 68 vs 55, Skimming Stone will read as the brighter of the two — a 14-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Smokey Taupe's red character against Skimming Stone's warm — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 6.9, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Smokey Taupe vs Skimming Stone in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Smokey Taupe and Skimming Stone 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Skimming Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Smokey TaupeSmokey Taupe living room

@al_satang

Skimming StoneFarrow and Ball Skimming Stone 241 living room

@crosspool_eclectic

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Skimming Stone will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smokey Taupe would.

Smokey TaupeBenjamin Moore Smokey Taupe kitchen color

@allamericanpainters

Skimming StoneFarrow and Ball Skimming Stone 241 kitchen

@home_at_eden_gardens

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Skimming Stone will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smokey Taupe would.

Smokey TaupeBenjamin Moore Smokey Taupe kitchen cabinets paint review

@riemerkitchens

Skimming StoneFarrow and Ball Skimming Stone 241 kitchen cabinets

@therichardshome23

Color Details

Smokey Taupe
Benjamin Moore · 983
Hex#CDC4B5
LRV54.5
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number983
UndertoneRed
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball · 241
Hex#dfd6cb
LRV68.1
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number241
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight

Smokey Taupe vs Skimming Stone Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smokey Taupe on one side and Skimming Stone 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 Smokey Taupe comparisons

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

White Dove
Smokey Taupe
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Smokey Taupe
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Smokey Taupe
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Smokey Taupe
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Smokey Taupe
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Smokey Taupe reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Smokey Taupe
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Smokey Taupe
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Accessible Beige
Smokey Taupe
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Smokey Taupe
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

French Gray
Smokey Taupe
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Smokey Taupe reads slightly lighter

Naval
Smokey Taupe
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Smokey Taupe
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Bancha
Smokey Taupe
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Hardwick White
Smokey Taupe
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Smokey Taupe reads slightly lighter

Pure White
Smokey Taupe
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Smokey Taupe
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Smokey Taupe
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Shoji White
Smokey Taupe
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White reads noticeably lighter

Snowbound
Smokey Taupe
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Smokey Taupe
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
Smokey Taupe
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Smokey Taupe reads noticeably lighter

Calamine
Smokey Taupe
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reads noticeably lighter

Treron
Smokey Taupe
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Smokey Taupe
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
Smokey Taupe
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Smokey Taupe reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Smokey Taupe
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Smokey Taupe reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Smokey Taupe
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Smokey Taupe
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Smokey Taupe is the lighter choice

Guilford Green
Smokey Taupe
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Just Walnut
Smokey Taupe
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut reads noticeably lighter