Reef Green
2042-20 · #007E5D · LRV 16 — cool blue-green tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Essex Green6
- 2Backwoods11
- 3Reef Green16
- 4Sage Green22
- 5Evergreen Fog30
What Color Is Reef Green, Really?
Reef Green reads as a cool blue-green tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2042-20 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Reef Green
Reef Green works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greens bridge indoors and out, so they suit living rooms, kitchens and sunrooms.
How Lighting Changes Reef Green
With an LRV of 16, Reef Green is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its teal 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Reef Green 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 2042-20 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | SoapstoneMQ4-14 · Behr | 2.4 | 15 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Shadows of Time8001-34G · Valspar | 3.8 | 12 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Ivy LeaguePPG1228-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.5 | 15 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Ivy LeaguePPG1228-7 · Glidden | 1.8 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Willow Lane230-6DB · Dutch Boy | 4.0 | 16 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Irish BeautyDE5685 · Dunn-Edwards | 1.5 | 14 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Reef Green 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 #007E5D in HSL space. Pair Reef Green with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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