Color of the Year 2020 – Benjamin Moore First Light is absolutely out of a refreshing, soft, feminine, and blooming fairytale.
A noteworthy alternative to whites, grays, and beiges – this pink-toned paint color delivers just the right amount of positivity, optimism, and quirkiness.
Yes, this subdued pink Benjamin Moore paint color is not a mainstream pink that pricks the eye – rather, it’s a subtle neutral that adds the perfect touch of softness to the room.
And this is one reason why the paint color played at the forefront in 2020 and continues today!
‘This is a color from nature to complement many other hues’
So, what is this color truly all about? And why do homeowners have such an admiration for it?
Well, BM First Light is a pale pink paint color with deep gray undertones – yes, just the perfect pastel you’ve been looking for.
This subtle color makes its presence in nature in various surprising ways – whether it’s the flamingo, cherry blossom, or a rose.
So, how excited are you to introduce this color to your home?
In this color review, I am going to brief various do’s and don’ts, when, where, and how to use this color.
So, let’s get started!
Benjamin Moore First Light 2102-70 Details and Specifications
This section is one of the most important to discuss!
And do you know why? Well, if you don’t want to avoid any mess later – it’s ideal to thoroughly read through the details and specifications to know each inch of the color.
There are a ton of pastel pinks on the swatch – and this is the way to differentiate them all!
So, first and foremost, let me introduce you to the concept of Light Reflectance Values or the LRVs that determine how light or dark the paint color is.
You can easily find that value at the end of your Benjamin Moore paint swatch or even the website!
Here, in this case, the LRV of Benjamin Moore First Light is 77.46.
And that means it falls on the lighter end of the scale – but not too light (as compared to white).
(Remember, greater the value, lighter the paint – on a scale of 1-100)
What I like to do is sample First Light under different lights where I’m going to use it. I use Samplize stick-on samples. Get some samples now!
Secondly, other important associated terms are the RGB and the HEX Values.
Red = 239
Green = 226
Blue = 222
HEX Value = #efe2de
Since we have discussed the technical and scientific information, let’s get started with the practical aspects of this off-white pink Benjamin Moore paint.
How Does This Color Feel in a Space?
Benjamin Moore First Light is a soft and feminine pink paint color that can undeniably feel cool, calm, composed, and crisp when used in a space.
Also, note that this paint color has a deep cool undertone – thus, making you feel chilly and refreshing.
And since this paint has a high reflectivity value, it’s responsible for making your room appear larger, enhanced, and airier.
Even though it may appear white sometimes – the fact is the hidden pink tinge will always give your space a sense of character, smoothness, and rejuvenation.
Lastly, this color will also never go out of style or make you feel bored.
How Does Light Affect the Color?
Light has a major role to play here!
In a room with ample windows and natural light, BM First Light will appear even more airy, lively, and homely.
Of course, since most of the hitting natural light is being reflected away – the room tends to become cheerful and bright.
On the other hand, even if your space doesn’t receive ample natural light – this color is quite good to go!
Secondly, you must get your hands on the compass directions when applying a coat of this paint in your room.
(Try experimenting with swatches in different lighting conditions)
It definitely appears more soft and creamy in the south and west-facing rooms, whereas extremely chilly in the north-facing rooms.
Lastly, you can always play with artificial lighting to create a desired aura.
As I mentioned before, you can try out this color with real paint, (but without the mess) using stick-on samples from Samplize.
What are the Best Coordinating Colors?
Choosing coordinating colors is one of the best tasks!
Generally, this pastel pink can be best paired with lighter shades of yellow, lavender, lighter grays, white, and icy blues.
In terms of metallic accents, you can choose chrome or even golden accents.
Furthermore, you can either choose from a monochromatic or a contrasting color palette – depending upon the interior design style and your preference.
So, here are a few of the colors I would recommend for a monochromatic palette!
- 2102-60 Honey Hut
- 2102-50 Rose Bisque
- 2102-40 Brown Teepee
On the other hand, here are a few of the colors I would recommend for a contrasting color palette!
- 2117-60 Winter Gray
- 2121-70 Chantilly Lace
- 2153-60 Rich Cream
For your ceilings, trims, and moldings – you can use BM White Dove as it will further protrude the original adjacent hue.
BM First Light Vs Similar Colors
This gorgeous pink paint tends to share tons of similarities with other likewise hues.
Whether it’s the undertones or reflectivity – BM First Light can be compared to a couple of other BM and SW hues.
Some of the notable examples are BM 2105-70 Savory Cream and SW 6021 Dreamy White.
Let’s see how they all differ.
First Light Vs Savory Cream
These two BM colors share a ton of similarities – with the only difference of undertones.
The latter paint tends to have hidden beige undertones that can be reflected in the south or west-facing rooms.
With an LRV of 78.05 – this paint color is comparatively lighter than the former.
And lastly, you can best pair it with beiges to create a seamless, calm, and composed look.
If you want to test the subtle differences in your house, get some wall samples of each here.
First Light Vs Dreamy White
The former paint color has stark pink undertones – whereas, the latter majorly reflects a tinge of gray undertone.
It’s more calm and composed – and can almost feel like a white with deep pink undertones.
I highly recommend incorporating this color in an amalgamation with blues and beiges to create an out-of-the-box look.
With an LRV of 71, this paint color feels less reflective and lighter than the former.
Test these colors side-by-side to see the differences in “real life” INSIDE your home, with some wall-stick samples. Order here!
Where to Use First Light?
BM First Light is a beautiful, feminine tone of pink that can be used in most of the spaces in your home.
It could be the kid’s bedroom, nursery, kitchen, entryway door, or the living room.
And the choice is yours.
Especially in Shabby Chic, modern farmhouse, bohemian, and Eclectic style design – this color truly plays flawless.
So, let’s see where and how to incorporate this pink paint color in your home.
First Light in Living and Dining Rooms
Why not?
You must have an eye for this color to use it in a common space like dining or living room.
You can consider painting all the walls in this color and further pairing it with subtle yellows, whites, beiges, and lavenders.
Furthermore, incorporating tinges of wood and metal will further bring out the best in this color.
Lastly, ensure to add patterns like polka dots and fabric textures like faux and fur to complete the palette.
Using in Bedrooms
A bedroom is a great recommendation for BM First Light.
You can choose to paint all the walls in this color and further add metallic black-framed beds, side tables, and other furniture pieces.
Ensure to add a white fur area rug in amalgamation with curtains and contrasting bedding.
Generally, the more playful you get, the better it is!
When it comes to wooden textures, don’t hold back from pine, maple, or white oak.
Lastly, don’t hold back from choosing whites as a subtle base to further protrude out the true hue of BM First Light.
First Light in Kitchens
Benjamin Moore First Light in the kitchen is an absolutely eye-catchy and stunning idea to incorporate.
I highly recommend painting all the cabinets in this paint color with a clean and crisp white on the backdrop wall.
Choose brushed brass, matte black, chrome, or vintage gold on your pull handles and knobs.
Lastly, don’t feel shy from using matte-finish white backsplash tiles to go with your light gray or white granite countertop.
On the other hand, you can also go vice versa by choosing pink for the backdrop wall and white for the cabinets.
Using on Exteriors
This color can be used on the exterior walls with white or light wooden textures on the shutters, trims, and moldings.
If not the walls, you can also pick this color for the focal entry door and paint the shiplap walls in pure white or extreme light gray color. (This is what I highly recommend)
On the other hand, if you choose this paint color on the exterior shiplap, choose light gray, steely blue, or dark gray on the entryway door)
How to Best Sample This Color?
I need to share my favorite tip for testing out a color like First Light – go over and order a peel-and-stick sample from Samplize.
These folks are nifty because they figured out a convenient way for us to sample colors way more easily. Just stick up a temporary square sample and forget the small jar of actual wet paint.
For only a few dollars you’ll receive a perfect sized square you can stick up temporarily anywhere you want to “try” on a paint color and any possible coordinating hues you like. It’s the best!
So, did this color review bring you an inch closer to this paint?
Do you want to use it in your home? Exteriors or interiors? Walls or cabinets?
Well, I would love to know your thoughts! Do let me know in the comments below!