Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (7 Tips You Should Know Before Painting)

The Best Advice for Painting with Dark Colors

Is Benjamin Moore Hale Navy the best navy blue for your paint project? Here are some helpful hints you don’t want to miss!

BM Hale Navy is becoming one of the most popular paint colors out there because it’s a workhorse in terms of versatility.  For true navy paint colors, it doesn’t get any better than this! With this painted antique dresser makeover, I will show you time-saving tips for painting with dark colors that will save you time and money!

LET ME SHOW YOU:

• Why Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is so versatile on walls, furniture, and even as a kitchen cabinet paint color
• Color Comparisons to BM Hale Navy with actual paint colors in real homes
• Why it’s an interior design staple and the best navy paint for walls, cabinets, and furniture 
• Tricks for painting furniture in dark paint colors
• Tips to refinish an antique chest of drawers

What is the Best Navy Blue Paint Colour?

There are seemingly infinite options for navy blue paint colors, but how do you know which shade of navy blue works best in your space?  It’s important to pick a dark navy that is neutral so it coordinates with the other colors in your home. 

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is wonderful because it is so versatile for blue walls, cabinets, and furniture. In my opinion, this makes it the best navy on the market today!

BM Hale Navy is part of the Benjamin Moore Historical Collection, a collection of paint colors inspired by America’s historic landmarks.  Hale Navy is one of the most popular navy colors because of its versatility and dependability. 

It works well with any lighting situation, including artificial light which is uncommon with dark colors, especially dark blues.  It is the Benjamin Moore color counterpart to Sherwin Williams Naval, which was their 2020 Color of the Year.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154

Is Hale Navy Blue Or Gray?

Deep colors are dramatic and rich creating depth in your room, filling it with creativity, energy, and confidence.  The challenge with darker colors can be finding ones that work well with neutral paint colors. Fortunately, Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy has gray undertones make it soothing and sophisticated while its blue undertones still dominate. 

This shade gives a striking but still understated pop of color to any aspect of your home.  It works very well to accent parts of a room, ceilings, furniture, cabinets, or just a kitchen island. 

Hale Navy is also versatile in its uses for any room in your entire home because it is just as appropriate in a dramatic dining room, family room, or guest room.  It looks especially good in rooms where it can contrast with white like the laundry room in our home.

What Are The Undertones of Hale Navy?

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is a transitional color, meaning it has the perfect balance of cool and warm undertones.  It is amazing it gives a fresh look to so many color combinations and can be a great accent color on furniture, cabinets, and walls but somehow it also looks great as an exterior paint color.

White Paint Colors That Coordinate with Hale Navy

This bold color has the perfect mix of warm tones and cool tones.  This gives you lots of freedom when picking whites for window frames and trim work as you are not locked into a creamy white or a crisp, cool white. 

Also, it plays nicely with wood, lighter stained floors, a gray roof, or whitewashed bricks.  Like all navy paint colors, it has some green undertones but they don’t overpower the gray tones that make it a neutral.

For that reason, it looks great in a white kitchen whether it’s painted in Chantilly Lace (a warm white) or Decorator’s White (a crisp stark white). You can see how Hale Navy compares with SW Pure White, BM Decorator’s White, and SW Alabaster in the rooms below.

The Light Reflectance Value of Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore HC-154)

The LRV is the depth of color of a particular shade.  Light reflectance values are really helpful to tell you which colors are deeper than others.  When you are trying to decide between a dozen navy paint samples, a solid quantitative value is helpful!  Of course, Hale Navy has a dark light reflective value of 6.3 (Black is 0 and white is 100). 

Is Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Too Dark?

Don’t let this low LRV be deceptive – BM Hale Navy does not look so dark that it seems black! If you are unsure, get a sample of hale navy, paint a small piece of posterboard.

Then, hold it up to navy items in your home. It’s the perfect color depth to achieve the color navy without being black or too bright.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Color Palette

What colors compliment Benjamine Moore Hale Navy? In the same way dark jeans go with just about anything, so does Benjamin Moore Hale Navy when it comes to complementary colors!  I love that it is a sophisticated navy that has gray undertones making it inviting but not an in-your-face blue. 

BM Hale Navy is a color that accentuates your decor but is not so loud that it doesn’t coordinate well with the other furnishings of your home.  In other words, it is a definite navy blue color but still plays nicely with different colors without being a blue gray.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Coordinating Colors

• White Dove
• Cloudy White
• Simply White
• Revere Pewter
• Silver Strand (in my bedroom)
• Gray Wisp
• Fawn Brindle
• Spring Meadow

Hale Navy and Revere Pewter

One of the most popular colors today is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter.  Hale Navy and Revere Pewter look stunning together.  So many love the versatility of Revere Pewter on walls so you can be sure that Hale Navy is the perfect navy accent!

One of my best tips for picking interior paint colors is the Posterboard Trick.  Paint the center of a piece of poster board in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy.  The white border will give you some delineation from the hale navy and the previous wall color so you can pick the best paint color without it being influenced by your old color. 

Use painter’s tape to attach it to a wall that gets plenty of natural light and then live with it in the same space for a while, seeing how light interacts with the color during the day!  This trick will help you to assess your precise paint needs and whether this popular color is the best one for you.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Paint Tips (Painting Hacks for Dark Colors)

Navy is a classic color and elegant choice, but improper application can bring out any flaws and imperfections and make the finish look messy.

For painting walls, furniture, and cabinets in dark wall colors, be sure to use a dark primer.  If you are painting with a white primer you will need at least one or two extra coats of paint.  The best thing about using a dark gray primer is that it will save you from the extra cost and effort!

Hale Navy is a very dark color so although it interacts well with different lighting situations, consider using it on an accent wall instead of the entire room if you are concerned about using it in a dark room where you don’t have a lot of natural light coming in.  It would also be stunning as an accent wall behind the bed in a master bedroom.

Dark colors can be unforgiving because they are the hardest to get a smooth finish on.  Actually, any defects in the finish just show up more.  For that reason, use the roller I recommend below on cabinets and furniture in my painted antique dresser tutorial and video.  It’s the perfect choice to get a smooth finish every single time!

You can see more tips for painting furniture in dark colors in this post: How to Paint Furniture Black

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in Rooms

Below are some real-life examples of Hale Navy in action!  As I said, I love the versatility of this color as so few colors can be used on walls, exteriors, cabinets, AND furniture and match any design style.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Accent Wall

You don’t have to be an interior designer to feature this gorgeous navy blue on a focal wall. Sarah at Life on Virginia Street has done an amazing job pairing this Benjamin Moore Hale Navy accent wall with Simply White in her summer home office off her living room.   

Few dark colors can still accomplish “light and airy” like this one can and I like how Hale Navy’s great depth of color grounds the space.   

But because dark colors can make small spaces look cramped, Sarah’s use of BM Hale Navy on one wall still makes this area look open and roomy. It looks so good with the natural tones of her decor. You can see more of this cozy room and desk area in Sarah’s post here: The Best Navy Paint Colours.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Bathroom

I couldn’t write a blog post about Hale Navy without including this adorable buffalo print bathroom by Jamie Costiglio!  Isn’t it gorgeous?!?  She does her own spin on Hale Navy walls with this buffalo print pattern. 

I love that the pattern shows how well Benjamin Moore Hale Navy coordinates with Decorator’s White.  You can see exactly how Jaime did the pattern here: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Bathroom with Buffalo Check

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Cabinets

Hale Navy cabinets have made several appearances in kitchens but I especially like the accent of this hale navy island done by Staged for Upsell.  The barstools show how well this color coordinates with natural wood tones. 

Check out the Benjamin Moore Hale Navy painted hood top, also.  You can see more of this fabulous home’s Hale Navy cabinets here: 2019 QEII Lottery Dream Home’s Hale Navy Cabinetry

Not only are Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore) Cabinets a gorgeous way to add color to a kitchen, but they still have a neutral feel from the gray undertones in BM Hale Navy.  Benjamin Moore’s Old Navy or Gentleman’s Gray are beautiful color options but Hale Navy’s gray undertones make it a better neutral navy and look great with white marble. 

Nothing beats Hale Navy kitchen cabinets and rest assured they won’t be too bright or overwhelming.  If you are concerned about it being overpowering, you can just do hale navy on your lower cabinets.

RELATED: The Best White Cabinet Colors | The Top Blue-Gray Paint Colors | The 33 Most Popular Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Front Door

Gold hardware looks stunning against these front doors in BM Hale Navy. When painting your front door or exterior, be sure to get Benjamin Moore Hale Navy EXTERIOR paint because it is a more durable and mildew-resistant option. For more exterior ideas with this gorgeous color, click here: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Exteriors

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Bedroom

This hale navy bedroom shows how well this color can be minimalistic without being too stark. I love how well BM Hale Navy plays with neutrals and white!

Color Comparisons For Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore HC-154)

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs. Sherwin Williams Naval

Another popular navy is Sherwin Williams Naval. It is a better match if you want more of a royal blue than a true navy. It looks great on a point sample but sometimes on a large wall or furniture piece, it can get a little bright.

Seeing Hale Navy next to SW Naval makes it seem almost a charcoal gray. But since navy blues can become overwhelming, the neutral undertones of Hale Navy make it a safer option.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs. Benjamin Moore Old Navy

These are two of my favorite Benjamin Moore Navy Blues. If you are concerned about Hale Navy’s gray undertones, you can go with Old Navy (Benjamin Moore 2063-10). Both are beautiful neutral navys that will bring sophistication to any space.

What is the Best Sheen for BM Hale Navy Paint?  

On cabinets, I would use a semi-gloss or satin because higher-gloss paints are more durable than flatter paints.  I wouldn’t go for a high-gloss unless that’s a specific look you are going for on a furniture piece. 

For most furniture and walls, I like to use a satin or eggshell sheen which will give you a luxurious matte finish that is still wipeable. If you want a chalk-painted look on furniture, go with the flat finish but don’t use chalk paint: Why I Don’t Use Chalk Paint on Furniture

Navy Side Table Makeover On A Budget

My mother-in-law wanted me to redo these two end tables for her that once belonged to Jeremy’s grandma.  I love how Hale Navy’s cool undertones look against the wood grain.  I was so excited about the idea she had to leave the drawers stained and paint the rest navy. 

Of course, I used Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on the dressers and this post showed you how I fixed the faded stain of the drawers:  How to Fix Damaged Wood Furniture

 Painted Antique Dresser Makeover in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy – Supplies Needed: 

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Painted Antique Dresser Makeover

Here I’ll show you the best application method for Hale Navy (Benjamine Moore hc-154) on furniture along with some tips for painting with dark colors.

This is not just any piece of furniture but it actually belonged to my grandmother, Cornelia Moseley.  She used this dresser every single morning as she put her makeup on.  Her mirror was on the top and she put all of her makeup in the top drawer. 

My grandma was a seamstress which is why I painted a lace detail on the edge of each drawer with stencils to help remember her.  (You can see how I painted the stencils in next week’s post. Subscribe here to have it sent to your email inbox.)

Here is a full step-by-step video showing you to how to paint furniture in this gorgeous navy from start to finish.  You can also use the same process for painting cabinets in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy:

Step 1: Prep Your Antique Dresser by Sanding First

Stop! Before you do anything…take a before pic.  When you are done, post the before and after pics here, so I can see the amazing work you’ve done! ❤️

After you remove your hardware, be sure to put it in a baggie for safekeeping.  Those screws have a tendency to roll away at the worst possible time!

If your furniture has any damage, be sure to check out this post to fix any scratches, holes, or chipped drawers easily: The Ultimate Guide on How to Fix Damaged Wood Furniture

Run an electric sander over your piece just enough to rough up the surface.  Remember, you are not sanding off the old stain or paint, you are just making the surface more porous so the new primer and paint stick.

As I mentioned in my post How to Sand Furniture, you shouldn’t spend more than about 5 minutes sanding a furniture piece.  I say that because I don’t want you to waste a lot of time and elbow grease because the primer will do most of the work for us.

WHAT SANDER SHOULD YOU BUY?  If you are unsure of the best sander for furniture projects, you can find an easy-to-use sander for less than $20, here: Best Sanders for Furniture

Step 2: Wipe Down Your Furniture Piece Before Priming

After you have sanded your piece, wipe it down with a damp rag or baby wipes to remove any sanding dust.   This will ensure that the dust does not end up in the final finish of our beautifully painted antique dresser!  I forgot to mention this in the video above, but wipe from the top down to minimize dust in the finish.

Step 3:  The Easy Way to Prime a French Antique Chest of Drawers

As I write in my post A Better Alternative to Chalk Paint, I have had great success with using a primer and latex paint on furniture as opposed to chalk paint.  You can check out that post to see why it saves you time, money and you will get a smoother and more durable finish!

I’m a little lazy when it comes to furniture painting and if there is a shortcut that still gives me the same beautiful finish, I’m going to take that shortcut every single day of the week and twice on Sundays!

Antique dressers from the early 1900s often have legs with spindles. For any pieces that have spindle-y legs, I like to spray just the legs with a spray paint primer (see the current price here).   (You can see how I do this in the video above.)

“But Karin, why are you adding a whole other step to this furniture piece?” If you have ever painted curvy furniture legs, you know what a complete pain it can be!

For one thing, you can’t save time by using a roller, which means they take several coats with a brush.  Also, they are very prone to drips, and drips on those gorgeous milled legs will stand out like a sore thumb.

So, for milled legs, I spray paint those babies because it saves me a lot of time than brushing on primer and the legs turn out better in the long run!  You can read more tips for painting furniture legs here: The Easy Way to Paint Furniture Legs.

I like to use Rustoleum’s spray paints and any of their primers will work.  As you can see in the video, I just spray on a light coat, wait about 15 minutes and spray on another light coat.

Why Use a Gray Primer on Furniture with Dark Paint?

You’ll notice that the spray primer for the legs is gray and so is the Zinsser 123 primer for the rest of the piece. (Zinsser comes in a gray primer here or you can have it tinted at your local home improvement store or paint store).   

The good news about a darker primer is that going from a gray primer to a deep blue paint color, in this case, is not a big jump in color.  But going from a white primer to a dark paint color would take more coats of paint which means more effort and time on your part.

Because of this, I keep Zinsser Bullseye’s 123 primer in white AND in gray on hand at all times as painting with a darker primer is a great way to save time, money and effort!

Simply ask them at the paint counter to tint it to a dark gray by picking out any dark gray paint swatch.

I like to apply most of my primer and paint with a roller.  I highly recommend this roller(see the current price here) because it gives you an incredibly smooth finish every time!

Roll on a thick coat of primer and paint any detailed areas with your brush.  Your primer should only take a couple of hours to dry before it is time to paint. (If you are in a humid area, wait until the next day to paint).

Step 4: Paint with the First Coat of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Now that your primer is dry, it’s time for your first coat of this classic navy.  I like to use my roller on most of the surface and then my 1” Zibra brush (see the current price here) for any corners or details.  (For the rest of my time-saving furniture painting tips, fill out the form at the end of this post for your free checklist!)

Notice from the video that your first coat will be very transparent.  That’s ok – it will even out with the second coat!  Just get the paint on and smooth it out with the roller.

Give the first coat at least 4 hours to dry. (See the back of the can for a rough estimate on dry times in high humidity.)

TIP: Hale Navy Sherwin Williams Equivalent – My favorite Sherwin Williams paint is Sherwin Williams ProClassic Waterbased Latex for furniture (read why here), I decided to use the hale navy equivalent. 

You simply go to the Sherwin Williams counter and ask for the color of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy.  They already have the exact code in their computer system.  If you want a cheaper option for paint, you can get the Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Behr Equivalent at Home Depot!  I like Behr’s Marquee brand!  

Step 5: Spray Paint Your Dresser Hardware

While the first coat is drying, I like to take this time to spray paint my hardware outside in the garage.  It was a rainy day when I did this so I left the garage door open to get good ventilation. 

As you can see in the video, I sprayed a light coat and then I came back about 15 minutes later for another light coat of Rustoleum Universal’s Pure Gold (see the current price here).  This is a great choice to get the look of satin gold hardware.   It is almost a champagne gold and goes really well with Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. 

My Best Tips for Spray Painting 

For my favorite tips and tricks on getting  a flawless finish every time with spray paint, click here for your free checklist:  Best Tips & Tricks for Spray Painting Anything

Step 6: Coat 2 of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Paint

How that the first coat is dry, paint on the second coat of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy.  You might need a third coat depending on how well it is covering.  Extra coats are just ‘par for the course’ when painting with deep paint colors but we saved at least two paint coats by using a dark primer! 

Keep rolling the roller over the paint to get a nice smooth finish.  It will do most of the work for you.  Any remaining roller marks you see in the paint finish will settle out while the paint is drying.

(For more furniture-painting tips, fill out the form at the end of this post for your free time-saving checklist).

Step 7: Clear Coat and Add Hardware to Your Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Dresser

As an optional last step, you can apply a clear coat to help protect your furniture piece.  This is especially helpful with dark furniture pieces because it will protect the furniture from smudges from the paint reacting to the oils on your hands. 

Also, black and deep navy furniture pieces show dust easily so a clear coat will protect it from whatever you use to dust your furniture.

I’ve got your back when it comes to the best clear coat for furniture.  After much deliberation and experimenting, Varathane’s Waterbased Clear Coat in Satin (see the current price here) came out on top!

If you decide to add a clear coat, use a foam brush (like these).  They are super cheap and can be thrown away when you are done.  Brush on the clear coat in long strokes as you can see in the video here.  Let the piece dry overnight before adding the hardware and using it.

My grandmother was a seamstress and had lots of intricate lace that she loved to add to dresses.  I stenciled lace on the outside of the drawers to help me remember her!  Check out next week’s post to see the FULL tutorial on how to stencil on wood without bleed-through.

RENOVATE YOUR FAITH: How to Cultivate Space

For more spiritual encouragement, click here for the rest of my Renovate Your Faith Posts.

To learn how to add fabric drawer liners that are paper-like, scented and stain-resistant, click here: The Easy Way to Make Drawer Liners from Fabric

Also, I figured out how to paint with detailed stencils without paint bleed.  To see more of the drawers and how to stencil perfectly every time, click here: The Best Way to Stencil (Without Bleeding!)

More Posts Related to this Navy Antique Dresser Makeover

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A Beginner’s Guide to Furniture Painting (Best Tips & Color Ideas!)

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Why I Don’t Use Chalk Paint on Furniture and Home Decor

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Painted Antique Dresser in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Hale Navy is so versatile for walls, kitchen cabinets, and furniture and at the end of the day it is a safe bet if you are looking for a versatile shade that coordinates well with different colors.  Painting with dark colors can be tricky!  But now you know some furniture painting hacks to make painting dark furniture SO much easier.  Whether for a bedroom accent wall or a painted antique dresser from the 1900’s, you can’t go wrong with Benjamin Moore Hale Navy!

I love to hear your thoughts and questions!  Scroll down to leave a comment and I WILL reply! ❤️

Blessings,

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Karin Peters

Karin Peters is a DIY expert and the creator of Renovated Faith. She is a furniture painter, a home design consultant, and a tenacious problem solver determined to help you transform your house into a home. With 17 years of experience with DIY home improvement, she researches and analyses professional processes to adapt them to be easy and cost-effective for DIYers.  She then tests every project and product before it appears on the site in a detailed, step-by-step format.  After attending Texas A&M University, she received her Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages at Southwestern Baptist Theology Seminary.  Her passions unite in Renovated Faith, which shows readers how to create a home that serves them so they can pursue their God-given purposes.     About Renovated Faith  |   Editorial Policy  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | LinkedIn