Hemlock
What Hemlock Actually Looks Like
Hemlock reads as a soft, smoky teal. It sits in that middle ground between blue and green, pulled toward gray so it never feels tropical or saturated. At a glance it can seem almost like a washed-out slate, but step closer and the green warmth comes through. It is quiet without being dull, and it carries a kind of weathered quality that works well in rooms where you want color without noise.
Hemlock Undertones
The dominant undertone is gray, which is what keeps this color from leaning too heavily toward either blue or green. In bright natural light the blue-green reads more clearly. In low or north-facing light the gray takes over and the color can feel noticeably cooler and more muted, almost like a aged patina. Artificial warm light tends to bring the green forward slightly.
Where Hemlock Works Best
Hemlock suits spaces where you want a receding, calm color. Bedrooms and bathrooms are natural fits because the cool gray-teal reads as restful. It also works well in a study or home office where you want visual interest without distraction. Given its relatively low light reflectance, it is better suited to rooms that get some daylight rather than very dark interior spaces where it could feel heavy.
Where to put Hemlock
In a bedroom Hemlock creates a genuinely restful atmosphere. Keep bedding and textiles in warm whites or natural linen to prevent the room from feeling cold. Wood tones in furniture warm the palette and stop the gray from dominating.
In a bathroom this color behaves like a nod to sea glass. White trim and fixtures give it contrast and keep it feeling clean. In a smaller bathroom with limited natural light, consider a satin or semi-gloss finish to bounce light around the space.
As an office color Hemlock is focused and calm without being sterile. It pairs well with warm wood desks and natural fiber rugs. Avoid pairing it with cool gray furniture because the room can start to feel flat and draining.
In a larger living room with good natural light Hemlock can anchor a thoughtful, understated palette. Use warm-toned accents in terracotta, rust, or burnished brass to prevent the space from feeling too cool.
What to Pair With Hemlock
No coordinating colors were specified in our database for this color, so the pairings below draw from general color knowledge.
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Colors that clash with Hemlock
Pairing Hemlock with cool gray tile or flooring can strip the life out of both colors. The room ends up feeling monochromatic in a draining rather than intentional way.
Hemlock is a cool, muted color and it can feel jarring next to a warm saturated adjacent room if there is no transition.
A stark, blue-white trim can push Hemlock toward feeling cold and institutional rather than composed.
Common questions
Hemlock has an LRV of 28.89, which puts it in the medium-dark range. It will absorb a meaningful amount of light, so rooms with good natural light will handle it better than dark interior spaces. If your room is already dim, test a large sample before committing.
Yes, Hemlock 719 is available in both Benjamin Moore interior and exterior lines, so you can use it on an exterior application such as a front door or siding as well as indoors.
For most walls an eggshell finish gives you a subtle sheen that makes the color easier to clean without the reflectivity of satin. In bathrooms or kitchens, step up to satin or semi-gloss for moisture resistance and to help bounce light in smaller spaces.
It depends on your light conditions. In warm or south-facing light the green tends to come forward. In north-facing or cool artificial light the blue and gray read more strongly. Pull a large sample and observe it at different times of day before deciding.