Bracken Slate
What Bracken Slate Actually Looks Like
Bracken Slate reads as a dark, smoky neutral that sits right at the intersection of gray, green, and blue. It is the kind of color that does not shout a single hue but instead settles into a room as a grounded, atmospheric tone. In strong natural light it shows more of its gray-green character. In dimmer rooms or evening light it can pull almost charcoal, reading closer to a near-neutral dark.
Bracken Slate Undertones
The color carries a mix of cool and earthy pulls. There is a quiet green component and a blue-gray base working together, which means it does not commit cleanly to any one direction. Against warm whites it will look cooler and more blue-green. Against stark cool whites the green note can become more visible. It is a complex neutral rather than a simple one.
Where Bracken Slate Works Best
This color belongs to the Colonial Williamsburg collection, which shapes how it is best used. It suits historic or traditionally styled homes well, especially on millwork, shutters, exterior trim, doors, or accent walls where a deep, restrained tone is called for. It can also work in interior spaces where you want a moody, enveloping feel, such as a study, library, or dining room. Because its LRV is low, it absorbs a fair amount of light, so it works best in rooms where that quality is an asset rather than a problem.
Where to put Bracken Slate
A low-LRV color like this creates exactly the cocooning atmosphere a reading room calls for. Use it on all four walls with warm-toned wood shelving and brass fixtures to keep it from feeling cold.
Dark, complex walls make candlelit dinners feel intentional. Bracken Slate provides that depth without leaning too dramatically in any single direction, so your furnishings and table settings hold the spotlight.
Its Colonial Williamsburg lineage makes it a natural for historic exteriors. On shutters or a front door against a warm or cream siding color, it anchors the facade with quiet authority.
Small spaces are low-risk experiments for dark colors, and a powder room with Bracken Slate on all walls, especially with a mirror and good artificial light, can feel surprisingly sophisticated rather than oppressive.
What to Pair With Bracken Slate
No specific Benjamin Moore coordinating colors are listed for Bracken Slate, but the color pairs naturally with creamy off-whites on trim, warm taupes, and aged brass or bronze hardware. Soft linen tones balance its cool-dark character without fighting it.
Colors that clash with Bracken Slate
A stark cool white next to Bracken Slate can amplify its green undertone in ways that feel unintentional, making the trim look slightly off and the wall color look muddier.
High-chroma oranges, reds, or golds can fight with the muted, smoky quality that makes this color work. The contrast tips into busy rather than bold.
Because this color has a low LRV, north-facing or basement rooms with no warm light source can feel heavy and flat with Bracken Slate on the walls.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore code is CW-690. The precise LRV is 14.09, which puts it firmly in the dark range. Hex and RGB values are shown in the color spec block on this page.
It is genuinely all three, which is part of what makes it interesting and also why you should test a large sample before committing. The dominant read shifts depending on your light source and what surrounds it.
It can, particularly on smaller structures or as an accent color on a historic home. As a full-house exterior color it makes a bold, dark statement, so consider how much direct sunlight your home receives and whether you want that level of visual weight.
For interior walls, eggshell or matte finishes tend to reinforce the moody, grounded quality of dark colors like this. Satin or semi-gloss work well on trim and doors where durability matters and a bit of sheen adds definition.