Butterfly Wings
What Butterfly Wings Actually Looks Like
Butterfly Wings is a saturated coral-orange that leans peachy in softer light and turns almost candy-bright in strong direct sun. It sits in a mid-tone range, so it holds its presence on a wall without going neon or washing out. In rooms with warm incandescent or amber LED lighting, the orange intensifies noticeably. In cooler north or east light, the peach quality comes forward and the color reads a little softer and more approachable.
Butterfly Wings Undertones
The dominant undertone is warm peachy-orange with a clear red base underneath. There is very little yellow here, which keeps it from sliding into a true tangerine. In low light it can read more salmon than orange. In bright daylight the red warmth becomes more visible, pushing it toward a richer coral. Because the color carries so much warmth, any cool or blue-toned materials nearby, like gray stone or slate, will make the orange read more intensely by contrast.
Where Butterfly Wings Works Best
Butterfly Wings works best as an accent or focal-point color rather than an all-over whole-home choice. A single feature wall in a living room, a small powder room, a dining room, or a creative workspace are all solid fits. Smaller spaces in warm south or west exposure can feel energized rather than overwhelmed. In very large rooms with high ceilings, the color can feel thinner, so a satin or eggshell finish helps it read with more body. It is available for interior use.
Where to put Butterfly Wings
A small powder room is one of the strongest uses for Butterfly Wings. The contained space means you get the full impact of the color without committing a large square footage to it, and guests experience it as a deliberate, energetic choice. Pair warm white trim and a simple mirror with a natural wood or brass frame to keep it grounded.
In a dining room with warm evening lighting, Butterfly Wings deepens into a rich coral that flatters skin tones and makes the space feel convivial. Keep the table linens and upholstery in natural linen, warm cream, or deep terracotta so the wall color stays in conversation with the rest of the room rather than fighting it.
The color has enough energy to keep a workspace lively without the harshness of a true red. In a south or west-facing room with good daylight, it reads bright and motivating. If your work involves color-critical tasks like design or photography editing, be aware the strong warm cast on the walls will influence how you perceive other colors in the space.
Used on a single wall behind a sofa or fireplace, Butterfly Wings functions as a bold backdrop without overwhelming the full room. Flank it with warm neutral walls, and bring in a few accessories in deep green, ochre, or natural wood to give the eye somewhere to rest.
What to Pair With Butterfly Wings
No specific coordinating colors are listed in our database for Butterfly Wings 090. As a general approach, pair it with warm off-whites on trim and ceilings to keep the palette cohesive, or ground it with a deep, earthy neutral on adjoining walls. Natural wood tones, terracotta tiles, and brass or copper hardware all support the warm coral direction without competing with it.
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Colors that clash with Butterfly Wings
If an adjacent room or open-plan space uses a cool gray or blue-toned wall color, the contrast with Butterfly Wings can feel jarring rather than intentional. The warm orange and cool gray pull hard against each other at the transition point.
Chrome and brushed nickel fixtures or hardware read cold and flat against the warmth of Butterfly Wings, and the contrast makes both elements look less considered.
Purple and orange sit across from each other on the color wheel, and while that can work in theory, an unplanned mix of violet-toned textiles or artwork with Butterfly Wings tends to look accidental rather than complementary.
Common questions
The precise LRV is 47.59, which places it solidly in the mid-tone range. It is neither a light pastel nor a deep dramatic shade. It will reflect a moderate amount of light, meaning it holds its presence in most rooms without making a space feel significantly smaller or darker, though very small rooms with limited natural light will feel more enclosed.
It depends heavily on your light source and exposure. In warm incandescent or amber LED light, or in a south or west-facing room, it reads as a clear, energetic coral-orange. In cooler north or east light, the peach quality comes forward and it softens toward a warm salmon. The finish matters too: a flat finish absorbs more light and softens the color, while a satin or eggshell brings out more vibrancy.
Our database lists Butterfly Wings as an interior color only. If you are looking for a similar coral-orange for an exterior application, check with your Benjamin Moore retailer about exterior-specific formulations or tintable exterior lines.
Eggshell is a practical choice for both spaces. It gives the color enough sheen to feel intentional and rich without the high-glare of satin, and it is easier to wipe clean than flat. In a powder room with high humidity, lean toward satin for better moisture resistance.