Most paint color news this month is about 2027 trends. We’ve covered a few, including Benjamin Moore Webster Green and Sherwin-Williams Plum Brown. Today we’re looking at the classics instead. The Benjamin Moore Historical Colors collection turns 50 this year. It came out in 1976 for the American Bicentennial and includes 191 shades, numbered HC-1 through HC-191. For Charlotte-area homeowners who want a color that still looks right in ten years, it’s a smart place to start.
SouthEnd Painting is not affiliated with, certified by or endorsed by Benjamin Moore. Benjamin Moore is one of several brands our crews use, along with Sherwin-Williams, Behr, Valspar and PPG, and we’re glad to help you pick and apply whichever color you like.
What Makes a Color “Historical”?
Benjamin Moore says the collection was inspired by 18th- and 19th-century North American architecture, and that buildings run by the U.S. National Park Service were key sources. Any Benjamin Moore color whose code starts with “HC” belongs to it. Even the brand’s 2027 Color of the Year, Webster Green HC-130, comes from this group, and so does Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64 from the new 2027 trends palette.
The colors aren’t only for old houses. They’re muted and a bit complex, so they look at home in a 1920s bungalow, a brick traditional in Weddington or a new build in Waxhaw or Indian Trail.
The Best Sellers and Where We’d Use Them
Benjamin Moore singles out several best sellers and longtime favorites from the collection. Below, the LRV (light reflectance value) is the brand’s 0-100 number for how much light a color reflects. Higher is lighter.
Revere Pewter HC-172 (LRV 55.05)
A greige that sits between warm and cool. It’s a dependable whole-house color for open floor plans, where one shade has to work in the kitchen, living room and hallway. Benjamin Moore lists White Dove OC-17 as one of its coordinating colors, which makes an easy trim and ceiling white.
Edgecomb Gray HC-173 (LRV 63.09)
A little lighter and warmer than Revere Pewter. We like it for bedrooms, hallways and darker rooms that need more bounce. It’s also an easy, soft color for exterior siding.
Hale Navy HC-154 (LRV 8.36)
A deep, classic navy and probably the collection’s best-known color. Use it on a front door, a kitchen island or lower cabinets, built-ins or a study. Next to white trim, it looks crisp without being as harsh as black.
Kendall Charcoal HC-166 (LRV 14.61)
A dark charcoal gray. On the outside of a Charlotte home it works well for shutters, a front door or garage doors against light siding or tan brick. Inside, it’s a good choice for a mudroom bench or a vanity.
Essex Green HC-188 (LRV 5.64)
A green so dark it reads almost black. Picture shutters on a white or brick house, or a front door framed by boxwoods. It’s a softer alternative to plain black.
New London Burgundy HC-61 (LRV 9.82)
A deep red with brown in it. Benjamin Moore points to front doors, and we’d add dining rooms and powder rooms. If you liked our Plum Brown post but want something a bit redder and more traditional, try this one.
Saybrook Sage HC-114 (LRV 45.46)
A soft green-gray that’s calm and easy to live with. It suits kitchens, laundry rooms and bedrooms, and it pairs well with wood floors and white cabinets.
Three Whole-House Schemes
- Brick traditional: Revere Pewter in the main living spaces, White Dove trim, a Hale Navy front door and Kendall Charcoal shutters.
- Light and warm: Edgecomb Gray walls throughout, Saybrook Sage in the kitchen and a New London Burgundy front door.
- Classic with a 2027 twist: Revere Pewter walls, Essex Green shutters and Webster Green HC-130 on built-ins or a study.
Painting Classic Colors Well
A few things we’ve learned on the job:
- Sample first. Benjamin Moore sells peel-and-stick samples, and local retailers hand out free color chips. Look at them on more than one wall, in morning and evening light.
- Deep colors take more work. Hale Navy, Essex Green and New London Burgundy usually need a tinted primer and an extra coat to look even. Crisp cut-in lines matter more on dark walls.
- Pick the right sheen. Flat or matte hides wall flaws. Satin or semi-gloss holds up better on doors, trim and cabinets.
- Mind the vinyl. We repaint faded vinyl siding with paint that has a PVC additive made for vinyl. Dark colors absorb heat, though, so on vinyl we keep to the lighter range, like Edgecomb Gray or Revere Pewter, and save the deep shades for doors and shutters.
- Prep the cabinets. Painted cabinets last when they’re cleaned, sanded, primed with a bonding primer and finished with a hard enamel. That prep is most of the job.
Let SouthEnd Paint Your Classic Colors
SouthEnd Painting & Roofing Contractors paints interiors, exteriors, front doors, shutters, trim and cabinets across Charlotte, Weddington, Waxhaw, Marvin, Matthews, Wesley Chapel, Monroe and Indian Trail. We also handle finish carpentry and rotted wood, so trim and doors are ready before the paint goes on. See our interior painting, exterior house painting and residential services pages, and ask about Acorn financing. Call (704) 522-0000 or request a free estimate.
Sources: Benjamin Moore, Historical Color Collection; Benjamin Moore, 50 Years of the Historical Color Collection (July 21, 2026); Benjamin Moore color pages for Revere Pewter HC-172, Edgecomb Gray HC-173, Hale Navy HC-154, Kendall Charcoal HC-166, Essex Green HC-188, New London Burgundy HC-61, Saybrook Sage HC-114, Webster Green HC-130, Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64 and White Dove OC-17 (checked Oct. 19, 2026). Color names, numbers and LRVs are as listed by Benjamin Moore. Photo: “Traditional American house,” rawpixel, CC0 1.0 public domain (source); the house is for illustration and isn’t painted in Benjamin Moore Historical Colors.
