Sesame
What Sesame Actually Looks Like
Sesame CC-638 sits in that quieter corner of the yellow-green family. It reads as a warm, dusty khaki, somewhere between dried grass and aged parchment. It is not a bold color and not a neutral in the traditional sense either. Think of it as a color that recedes gently, adding warmth without announcing itself. In strong natural light it brightens noticeably toward a soft golden straw tone. In lower or artificial light it settles into a more muted, almost greige territory.
Sesame Undertones
The RGB values here tell a clear story: red and green channels are close and high, the blue channel is meaningfully lower. That combination produces a warm, slightly green-tinted yellow base with earthy, olive-adjacent qualities. It is not a clean yellow and not a true green. In cooler north-facing light the olive quality can come forward more noticeably. In warm incandescent or warm LED light the yellow warmth takes over and the green recedes.
Where Sesame Works Best
Sesame works best where you want quiet warmth rather than a statement. Rooms that get good natural light will show its brighter, straw-like side to good effect. Rooms with limited light benefit from warmer artificial bulbs to keep it from reading flat or overly olive. It suits spaces where you want an earthy, grounded quality without going full brown or tan.
Where to put Sesame
In a living room with good daylight, Sesame reads as a warm, inviting backdrop without dominating. Pair it with natural linen upholstery and wood furniture and it feels cohesive and calm. Rooms with limited windows risk it reading a bit flat, so warm-toned lighting helps considerably.
Sesame can bring a cocooning quality to a bedroom without making the space feel heavy. Its relatively high light reflectance keeps it from closing in on you. Use warm white trim to keep the palette feeling clean rather than muddy.
In a kitchen with natural light, Sesame can work well on walls behind white or warm wood cabinetry. Under typical kitchen task lighting it holds its warmth. Avoid pairing it with cool gray or stark white cabinets, as that combination can make the wall color read slightly yellow-green in a less flattering way.
A home office in Sesame feels low-stress and easy to spend time in. It does not vibrate or demand attention. If your office has north-facing light, test a large sample first and assess it under the artificial lights you actually use, since the olive quality can creep in under cool bulbs.
What to Pair With Sesame
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color. Generally, Sesame pairs well with warm whites, soft taupes, and earthy terracottas. Deep navy or forest green can give it grounding contrast. Natural wood tones in medium to warm ranges sit comfortably alongside it.
Colors that clash with Sesame
If adjacent rooms or trim are a cool or blue-gray, Sesame can look unexpectedly yellow-green by contrast, making both colors feel off.
Bright cool whites with blue or gray undertones can make Sesame read more yellow-green than intended, pulling out its less flattering qualities.
Gray tile or cool gray hardwood can fight with Sesame's warmth, leaving the room feeling color-confused rather than cohesive.
Common questions
Sesame has an LRV of 63.05, which puts it solidly in the medium-light range. It reflects a reasonable amount of light and will not make most rooms feel dark, though room size and natural light still matter.
It can read as either depending on the light. In warm natural or incandescent light the yellow side comes forward. In cooler north-facing or overcast light the olive-green quality becomes more noticeable. Always sample it on the actual wall in your specific room before committing.
Eggshell is a reliable choice for most living spaces, offering a slight sheen that makes the color feel a touch richer without being reflective enough to highlight wall imperfections. Matte works well if your walls are in good condition and you want the softest, most muted version of the color.
Yes, Sesame is available in both interior and exterior Benjamin Moore formulas.