Benjamin Moore Navajo White Paint Review & Quick Refresh

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If you’re looking for the perfect white paint to freshen up an old rocking chair or paint your kitchen cabinets, look no further! Benjamin Moore Navajo White paint is the perfect white to refresh any space with beautiful results every time.

I first used Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White paint to resurface an old rocking chair. It’s a great paint to use on simple furniture projects like this or to add a clear, bright look to your window frames or walls.

I’ll break down everything you need to know about this white paint and share my rocking chair resurfacing project too!

Why you’ll love Benjamin Moore Navajo White

Navajo White paint by Benjamin Moore is a timeless shade of creamy white with slight yellow undertones. It’s a warm white paint, but is a neutral white color that can be used in a variety of settings.

You can easily choose the sheen of your choice, reflecting more or less light based on your preferences.

• If you like the look of a matte finish, you can use flat paint as your base.
• For more light, choose the slight sheen of eggshell or satin finish.
• In a dark room or high traffic areas, I prefer the slightly polished glow of a higher sheen paint, like semi-gloss.
• For outdoor projects like refinishing furniture, choose exterior paint that can withstand lots of wear and tear.

Benjamin Moore Navajo White OC-95 Color Review

Benjamin Moore Navajo White Number: OC-95
Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 78.26
Undertones: Yellow
Collection: Off-White Collection
Other Names: 947, PM-29

Since the LRV of Navajo White is so much lower than Chantilly Lace, for example, BM Navajo White is definitely not a pure white, but it’s a perfect introduction to the wealth of off-white options available these days. 

Navajo White is a very pale tan with a great depth of color. This beautiful color really looks like the pale sands of the desert, making it a perfect fit for its name.

When you look at the pictures of the rocking chair I resurfaced, you can see the color is pale enough to look like white at first glance, but it has more dimension and color vitality than plain white paint.

This really makes it ideal for coating less-than-perfect surfaces or to use in high-traffic areas, as off-white colors can hide a multitude of sins.

What are the undertones of BM Navajo White?

Benjamin Moore Navajo White undertones are yellow with a hint of red. This classic warm off-white paint color has tan undertones that look great in a living room or even on refinished furniture.

This warm shade brightens up any space, making it feel warm and inviting. It’s an especially great fit for north-facing rooms that can be overly cool due to shadows.

Which colors go best with Navajo White?

Because of its warm undertones and off-white shade, Navajo white is incredibly versatile and can be used with a variety of complementary colors on your interior paint job.

I personally prefer to use it with richer hues in the warm color family, like reds, yellows, or browns, as they pair together very well. Honestly, this off-white is so mellow that it can be used with a variety of styles, including modern farmhouse, coastal, and more.

​You should be able to see here how well BM Navajo White pairs with other warm colors. It’s a perfect background for tans, beiges, and browns, which make any space feeler warmer and more inviting. 

FAQs

Is Benjamin Moore Navajo White a warm color?

Yes! With its yellow, tan undertones, Navajo White is a warm off-white color that looks great on any surface including your interior, exterior walls, low-traffic areas, high-traffic- areas and more. It adds a fresh look with an easy-to-clean surface that can hide dust, scrapes, and nicks. Plus, this warm white brightens up a cool room, so it’s ideal for north-facing rooms.

Benjamin Moore Navajo White vs Sherwin Williams Navajo White

You might be surprised to know that there are two brands of Navajo White paint out there! These two shades are very similar. Both have yellow undertones and offer an antiqued, beige look.

However, the SW version is slightly darker, while the BM version is a little paler. They’re both so similar that it can be helpful to compare the two samples side by side in your room. For a paler finish closer to an off-white, stick with BM Navajo White.

Benjamin Moore Navajo White vs White Dove

These two off-white shades are incredibly similar. Both Navajo White and White Dove remind me of antique paper with their subtle yellow undertones.

With an LRV of 83.16, White Dove is quite a bit paler and much more subdued. Although Navajo White is also off-white, White Dove has a paler appearance with less obvious yellow undertones. White Dove has a tinge of green to it, similar to Chantilly Lace, which mellows out the color.

White Dove is really similar to Swiss Coffee or Oxford White, fitting more into that barely off-white color category like Chantilly, versus the more tan color of Navajo White. 

How to Refinish a Chair with Navajo White

This beautiful off-white paint looks great in any area. Regardless of your application method, you’ll get a luxurious matte finish. I prefer to use a paint sprayer for even coverage and fewer coats of paint.

Setting up the HomeRight sprayer takes less than 5 minutes, and cleanup is so simple. I can’t even imagine painting this chair by hand. Now that would be painful! The sprayer allows you to achieve a custom finish very quickly.

For outdoor use, choose latex exterior paint as the base for your paint color. Because the paint is so durable, you can get away with using just the exterior paint and not worrying about the topcoat! 

Equipment:

• Paint Sprayer (my updated paint sprayer model)
• Cloth
• Sandpaper or sanding block

Materials:

• Navajo White paint

How to Paint Rocking Chair

1. Using sandpaper, sand away any wear and tear to rough up the texture of the chair and give the paint a flat surface to stick to.

2. Wipe away any dust with a cloth.

3. Fill your paint sprayer with paint and spray two thin coats.

4. Let the paint dry completely before using the chair.

The dry time is minimal as the paint sprayer leaves a fine smooth finish. Once the first coat was dry, I applied another. My grandfather was watching me as I took this sad rocking chair and turned it into something beautiful in no time at all.

He said, “good job, kid, I am glad you didn’t throw it out, it looks brand new again.” He is from the era of “save everything and dispose of nothing.” I am with him all the way when it comes to making something old look new again.