Gardenia
AF-10 · #F3F0E9 · LRV 85 — near-white with a hint of color, very light — near-white, broadens small spaces.
- 1First Star69
- 2Classic Gray74
- 3Gardenia85
- 4Chantilly Lace91
- 5Ultra Pure White97
What Color Is Gardenia, Really?
Gardenia reads as a near-white with a hint of color — very light — near-white, broadens small spaces. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore AF-10 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Gardenia
Gardenia shines on ceilings, trim and in small or low-light rooms where you need to stretch the light — and as a calm whole-home backdrop. As a white, it's a natural for trim, ceilings and cabinets, and a clean backdrop for art.
How Lighting Changes Gardenia
Gardenia is very light — LRV 85, close to white. It opens up small or dim rooms and keeps walls feeling airy. Its orange undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In north light it can read slightly cooler; a warm white trim alongside keeps it from going clinical.
Most complaints about Gardenia are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore AF-10 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Arcade WhiteSW 7100 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.1 | 86 | Color page → |
| Behr | Silk PillowPWN-15 · Behr | 0.5 | 87 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Crisp Cotton7007-4 · Valspar | 1.0 | 87 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Cotton TailPPG0998-1 · PPG / Glidden | 1.2 | 87 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Cotton TailPPG0998-1 · Glidden | 0.5 | 87 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Birched White004W · Dutch Boy | 0.6 | 89 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Gardenia within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #F3F0E9 in HSL space. Pair Gardenia with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Gardenia?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question