Maple Syrup
What Maple Syrup Actually Looks Like
Maple Syrup is exactly what the name suggests: a medium amber brown with a golden, honeyed quality. It sits in that range between a light caramel and a true brown, neither too pale to read as a neutral nor too dark to feel heavy in a well-lit room. In strong natural light it glows with warmth. Pull back the light and it deepens into a more grounded, earthy brown.
Maple Syrup Undertones
The color is built on warm orange and gold undertones. There is no gray, no green, and no pink pulling at it. That warmth is consistent and straightforward. Because of those orange-leaning undertones, it will intensify next to cool whites or blue-based colors, and it will feel more harmonious alongside creamy whites, warm taupes, and natural wood tones.
Where Maple Syrup Works Best
Maple Syrup works well where you want warmth and weight without committing to a dark, near-black brown. Think dining rooms, libraries, and cozy sitting rooms where the color can settle in and create atmosphere. It is also a strong candidate for cabinetry or built-ins, where that amber richness reads as intentional and sophisticated rather than accidental. On an exterior it can work as a body color on craftsman or cottage-style homes where earthy naturalistic palettes make sense.
Where to put Maple Syrup
Maple Syrup on dining room walls creates a warm cocoon that flatters candlelight and makes evening meals feel intentional. Keep the trim a warm cream rather than a stark white so the contrast does not fight the color's warmth.
In a room lined with books and wood furniture, this amber brown reads as grounded and purposeful. It works especially well with leather seating and darker wood shelving. Pair it with a warm-toned task lamp to keep the space from going too dark.
On lower cabinets or a kitchen island, Maple Syrup adds warmth and visual weight without the starkness of black or navy. Balance it with lighter countertops and a backsplash that has some cream or off-white in it.
If a full-room commitment feels like too much, use Maple Syrup on a single wall behind a sofa or bed. At this medium LRV it has enough depth to read as a deliberate design choice rather than a timid experiment.
What to Pair With Maple Syrup
No coordinating colors are listed in this color record. In general, Maple Syrup pairs well with creamy off-whites on trim, warm taupes, soft terracotta tones, and deep forest greens. Natural materials like linen, jute, leather, and wood grain amplify its earthy appeal.
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Colors that clash with Maple Syrup
A crisp white with blue or gray undertones will fight the orange warmth in Maple Syrup and make both colors look slightly off. The contrast becomes jarring rather than clean.
Cool gray sofas, cool-toned metal finishes, or blue-gray area rugs will clash with the amber base of this color rather than complement it.
In a room with limited natural light, Maple Syrup can tip toward a flat, muddy brown and lose the golden quality that makes it appealing.
Common questions
Benjamin Moore Maple Syrup has the color code 1105. The LRV is 29.76, which puts it solidly in the mid-dark range, and the hex and RGB values render in the color swatch on this page.
Yes, Maple Syrup is available in both interior and exterior finishes, so you can use it on walls, cabinetry, and exterior surfaces.
At its LRV it does absorb more light than a pale neutral, so a very small, windowless room will feel enclosed. In a small room that gets decent natural light, especially from south or west windows, it can still work well. Use lighter trim, keep the ceiling a warm white, and bring in some reflective surfaces to open the space up.
It reads as brown first, but a warm amber brown. In very bright light the golden and orange undertones become more visible. Under lower light or in the evening it shifts toward a deeper, more conventional brown. It never crosses into a true orange.