Franklin Lakes
What Franklin Lakes Actually Looks Like
Franklin Lakes is a medium-value blue-gray that sits comfortably between a true slate and a soft teal. It has enough depth to feel considered on a wall without reading dark, and enough blue to give a room a calm, settled quality. In strong natural light it opens up and leans more aqua. In low or north-facing light it pulls noticeably cooler and can edge toward a steely gray-blue.
Franklin Lakes Undertones
The dominant undertone is blue with a secondary green shift that surfaces in certain lights, particularly in south or west exposures where warm afternoon sun can pull a faint teal quality out of the color. Under artificial warm-white bulbs it tends to hold its gray-blue character fairly steadily. Cooler daylight bulbs will push it further into blue-gray territory.
Where Franklin Lakes Works Best
This color earns its place in rooms where you want a sense of quiet without going dark. Bedrooms and bathrooms are the obvious fit because the blue-gray reads restful. It also works well in a dining room or library where a bit of atmosphere is welcome. On exteriors it can read as a classic coastal gray-blue, pairing naturally with white trim and natural wood or stone. Keep in mind that at this depth level the color will shift noticeably depending on roof and hardscape tones around it.
Where to put Franklin Lakes
In a bedroom, especially one with east or south exposure, Franklin Lakes reads as a calm blue-gray that promotes rest without feeling clinical. Use a warm white on the trim to keep the space from feeling stark, and opt for natural linen or warm wood tones in furnishings to balance the cool wall color.
In a bathroom with tile, Franklin Lakes rewards a thoughtful tile choice. Cool white subway tile reinforces its blue quality, while warmer beige or stone tile pulls out the subtle green undertone. Make sure your vanity finish complements both directions before committing.
At medium depth, Franklin Lakes gives a dining room atmosphere without going moody. Candlelight and warm Edison-style bulbs warm it up considerably, so what looks like a cool blue-gray in daytime will soften in the evening.
On an exterior, Franklin Lakes reads as a classic blue-gray that plays well with natural stone, weathered wood, and white trim. Your roof color matters: a blue-gray or charcoal roof reinforces the color cleanly, while a warm brown or red-toned roof may pull a greenish cast from it.
What to Pair With Franklin Lakes
No specific coordinating colors are cataloged for Franklin Lakes at this time. As a general guide, warm off-whites work well as trim to prevent the wall color from reading cold, and deep charcoal or navy accents give it a purposeful contrast without competing with its blue-gray base.
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Colors that clash with Franklin Lakes
Strong honey-toned or orange-tinted wood floors and cabinetry can fight with the cool blue-gray base of Franklin Lakes, making the wall color read more green and the wood read more orange than either should.
A stark blue-white trim can push Franklin Lakes into a clinical or institutional reading, particularly in rooms with north or east exposure where the color already runs cool.
Red-toned fabrics, rugs, or tile can create a jarring contrast with the blue-green base of Franklin Lakes because the two color temperatures actively compete rather than complement.
Common questions
Franklin Lakes carries the Benjamin Moore code 1643 and has a precise LRV of 34.12, which places it solidly in the mid-depth range. It is dark enough to read as a real color on the wall but light enough to work without heavy-duty artificial lighting.
Under most conditions it reads as a blue-gray. The green quality is secondary and surfaces mainly in warm afternoon light or when the color is placed next to warm-toned materials like honey wood or warm-white stone. In cooler north light it stays firmly in blue-gray territory.
It can work in a north-facing room if you want a cool, composed atmosphere, but go in with clear expectations. The lack of warm natural light will pull the color toward a steelier, cooler blue-gray. Counter that with warm artificial lighting and warm-toned furnishings, or consider a sample test over at least two days before deciding.
Eggshell is the most versatile choice for main living areas and bedrooms. It gives just enough sheen to make the blue-gray depth readable without reflecting enough light to look shiny. In bathrooms or kitchens, a satin finish improves durability and still reads cleanly at this color depth.
Yes, it is available in both interior and exterior formulations from Benjamin Moore.