North Star
What North Star Actually Looks Like
North Star 288 is a light, creamy yellow. Its hex and RGB values point to a pale, buttery tone that sits comfortably between a true white and a golden yellow. In generous natural light it reads warm and bright, almost like parchment kissed with sunshine. Pull it into a dimmer room and it settles into a richer, more noticeably yellow cream.
North Star Undertones
The color carries yellow undertones with a soft warm base. There is no meaningful green or pink pull based on its RGB profile. What you get is a straightforward warm cream, the kind that flatters wood tones and natural fibers without fighting them.
Where North Star Works Best
North Star works best as an interior wall color where you want warmth without committing to a full-on yellow. It suits spaces that receive good natural light. In a room with south or west exposure it will feel lively and sunny. In a north-facing room it can tip toward a deeper, more saturated butter tone, so sample it first if your room skews cool.
Where to put North Star
In a living room with good daylight, North Star reads warm and welcoming without feeling loud. It works especially well alongside natural wood furniture and linen upholstery. Keep trim in a clean warm white to avoid muddying the palette.
This color suits a kitchen where you want the feeling of sunlight even on cloudy days. It pairs naturally with wood cabinetry and unlacquered brass hardware. Avoid pairing it with stark cool-white appliances, which can make the wall color look dingy by comparison.
As a bedroom color, North Star is soft enough not to feel energizing, but warm enough to avoid feeling stark. It reads restful in rooms that get morning light and works well with bedding in warm neutrals, dusty blues, or soft terracotta.
Because its LRV sits well above the midpoint, North Star can brighten a hallway that lacks windows. The warm tone prevents the space from feeling clinical, which cooler high-LRV colors sometimes do.
What to Pair With North Star
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color at this time. As a general principle, North Star 288 pairs well with warm whites on trim, natural wood cabinetry, and soft earthy neutrals in furnishings.
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Colors that clash with North Star
Pairing North Star with cool gray tile or gray-washed wood floors creates a warm-cool tension that can make both surfaces look off. The yellow cream in the walls will pull warmer and the gray floor will read colder than either would alone.
A very cool, blue-white trim next to North Star can make the wall color look yellowed or aged rather than intentionally warm.
Deeply saturated cool tones, think bright cobalt or icy lavender, in large upholstered pieces will fight the warmth of North Star and leave both the wall and the furniture looking slightly wrong.
Common questions
North Star 288 has an LRV of 81.13, which is quite high. That means it reflects a lot of light, making it a reasonable option for a room that lacks natural light. Keep in mind that in a truly dim north-facing room, the warm yellow undertone will become more apparent and the color will read richer than it does on the chip.
An eggshell finish is the standard choice for living areas and bedrooms. It gives you just enough sheen to wipe down the surface while keeping the warm, soft quality of the color intact. Flat or matte works well in low-traffic spaces if you want maximum depth. Reserve satin for kitchens or bathrooms where moisture resistance matters.
According to our database, North Star 288 is listed for interior use. Check with your Benjamin Moore retailer before using it outside, as the formulation may not be rated for exterior exposure.
The hex code, RGB values, and precise LRV for North Star 288 are displayed in the color spec block on this page. You do not need to look them up elsewhere.