Auberge
What Auberge Actually Looks Like
Auberge is a rich, dark brown with distinct reddish warmth. Think aged terracotta clay that has dried down several shades, or the inside of a well-worn leather saddle. It reads as a genuine deep color, not a near-neutral, and it holds its character across finishes. In bright, direct light it shows its reddish-brown complexity. In low or north-facing light it can pull almost chocolatey and close to black at the edges of a room.
Auberge Undertones
The dominant undertone is red, anchored by a substantial brown base. There is no gray in this color and no green. What keeps it from reading purely russet is that brown base, which grounds it and prevents it from veering into brick-red territory. In warm incandescent light the red comes forward noticeably. In cooler daylight the brown is more apparent and the overall read is earthier and more muted.
Where Auberge Works Best
Auberge is best suited to rooms where a deliberate, moody atmosphere is the goal. It works well in dining rooms, home offices, libraries, or a primary bedroom where you want the walls to wrap the space rather than recede. It can anchor a powder room beautifully because the small footprint means you can commit fully to the depth. Because its LRV is very low, it absorbs a significant amount of light, so it is not a good fit for rooms that already feel dark or for spaces where you need walls to bounce light around. South and west exposures give it the most life.
Where to put Auberge
A dining room is where Auberge earns its place. In candlelight or warm pendant light the reddish undertone activates and the walls feel intimate and enveloping. Keep the ceiling a warm off-white to lift the room without breaking the mood, and use brass or antique gold hardware to echo the warmth in the paint.
In a south or west-facing study Auberge creates a focused, settled atmosphere that works well for concentration. Layer in warm wood bookshelves and leather seating so the room reads layered and intentional rather than simply dark. A matte or eggshell finish will absorb glare from screens better than satin.
A powder room is one of the smartest places to use a color this deep. The small square footage means you can be bold without the commitment of a large room. Pair with warm brass fixtures and a large mirror to reflect light back into the space. The low LRV becomes an asset here, creating a jewel-box effect.
Auberge on bedroom walls reads warm and cocooning, especially in the evening. Use it on all four walls for full effect. Balance the depth with lighter bedding in natural linen or warm ivory tones, and bring in wood furniture rather than painted white pieces, which can feel stark against a color this saturated.
What to Pair With Auberge
Auberge has no official Benjamin Moore coordinating colors in our database, but its deep reddish-brown character gives you clear direction. Pair it with warm off-whites on trim and ceilings, natural materials like raw linen, brass, aged copper, and wood tones in the medium-to-light range. Avoid cool grays and bright whites on trim, which will make the contrast feel harsh rather than intentional.
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Colors that clash with Auberge
Auberge's warm red-brown undertone sits in direct opposition to cool gray surfaces. The contrast reads discordant rather than sophisticated, and the gray will pull the brown in the paint toward a muddy, undefined tone.
A stark, bright white or a white with blue or gray undertones next to Auberge creates a harsh boundary that emphasizes the darkness of the wall color rather than letting it breathe.
In a north-facing room with limited natural light, Auberge can absorb so much light that the space reads flat and heavy rather than atmospheric. The reddish warmth may not activate at all, leaving a dull dark brown.
Common questions
Matte or eggshell are the most common choices for a color this deep. Matte absorbs light and enhances the moody quality of the color. Eggshell gives you a slight sheen that makes the walls easier to wipe clean while still reading relatively flat. Satin works well on cabinetry or doors where durability matters, but on walls it can create noticeable sheen variation and highlight imperfections.
Deep, saturated colors like Auberge generally require two coats over a properly primed surface. Tinting your primer to a mid-tone brown or asking your paint store for a tinted primer close to the color will help you get consistent coverage and may reduce the chance of needing a third coat.
The Benjamin Moore color code is 2106-20. The precise LRV is 9.84, which places it firmly in dark color territory. Hex and RGB values are displayed in the color spec block on this page.
It can, particularly on a kitchen island or lower cabinets in a room that gets good natural light. On all upper and lower cabinets in an average-size kitchen it may feel heavy, especially if the countertops and backsplash are also on the darker side. Use a satin or semi-gloss finish for durability and cleanability on cabinet surfaces.
Auberge is available in exterior formulations. On a south or west-facing facade it can read as a warm, grounded earth tone with good depth. On a shaded or north-facing exterior it may read very dark and lose its reddish warmth. It suits architectural styles like Craftsman, Tudor, or rustic farmhouse better than contemporary or coastal homes.