Laura Bay
What Laura Bay Actually Looks Like
Laura Bay is a deep, rich navy blue. At this depth it reads almost like a true nautical navy in direct light, but in dim rooms or north-facing spaces it can pull close to midnight blue or near-black. The saturation is high, so it holds its identity as a definitive blue rather than drifting toward gray or purple.
Laura Bay Undertones
The hex and RGB values place Laura Bay squarely in cool blue territory. With significantly more blue than red or green in its makeup, it sits cleanly in the cool-to-neutral blue range without obvious warm undertones. It does not lean teal or violet in most lighting, staying loyal to a classic navy character.
Where Laura Bay Works Best
Because the LRV sits below 10, Laura Bay absorbs a lot of light. It works best where you want deliberate drama or a cocooning effect, think accent walls, small spaces used intentionally like a home library or powder room, exterior shutters and doors, or a dining room where low light is a feature rather than a flaw. Avoid it on ceilings in already dim rooms unless the look you want is a deliberately enclosed feeling.
Where to put Laura Bay
A small powder room is one of the strongest cases for Laura Bay. The enclosed square footage means the depth does not overwhelm, and the drama reads as intentional. Keep fixtures white and the mirror frame light to give the eye somewhere to rest.
Floor-to-ceiling on all four walls in a library setting, Laura Bay creates a focused, serious atmosphere that suits reading and work. Pair it with warm wood shelving and brass hardware to keep the room from feeling cold.
In a dining room lit mostly by candlelight or a warm pendant, Laura Bay rewards the low LRV. The walls recede and the table setting becomes the focal point. Add warm white trim to define the architecture.
Laura Bay performs reliably as an exterior accent color. On a door or shutters against a white or light gray house body, it reads as a classic, sharp navy without the risk of fading into black the way some very dark blues can.
On a single wall behind a bed, Laura Bay delivers a strong focal point without committing the entire room to such a low LRV. Natural linen bedding and warm wood furniture balance the coolness.
What to Pair With Laura Bay
No specific Benjamin Moore coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color, so pairings below draw from general design principles for a deep navy at this depth.
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Colors that clash with Laura Bay
Placing Laura Bay adjacent to a cool gray in an open floor plan can make both colors feel flat and cold, since neither introduces warmth to balance the other.
In a north-facing room with only cool daylight and no warm artificial light, Laura Bay can read almost black and feel oppressive rather than dramatic.
Combining a very dark floor with Laura Bay on the walls in a room that already lacks light removes nearly all visual contrast and can make the space feel like it closes in.
Common questions
Laura Bay's Benjamin Moore code is 2064-20, the hex is #184A7C, and the precise LRV is 8.24, which places it firmly in the deep-color category where it will absorb significantly more light than it reflects.
Yes, Laura Bay is available in both interior and exterior formulations, making it a practical choice for front doors, shutters, and exterior trim as well as indoor rooms.
In very low light it can come close to reading as near-black, especially at night under cool-toned bulbs. In good natural daylight or under warm incandescent or LED light it reads as a clear, deep navy blue. Sampling it on your actual wall through a full day-to-night cycle before committing is strongly recommended at this depth.
Eggshell is a reliable choice for most interior walls since it is easy to clean and adds just enough sheen to keep a very dark color from looking completely flat. Matte works well if you want a more velvety, light-absorbing look and the wall surface is smooth, since matte finishes can highlight imperfections.