Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan – a timeless color

Today’s color is a classic favorite that’s been a best-seller for decades. Learn everything Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan and decide if it’s the right paint color for your project.

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Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan

What color is Manchester Tan?

Manchester Tan HC-51, also known as Berber White 955, is a warm neutral with yellow undertones. It’s from the timeless Historical Collection, and is also one of the 75 colors in the “Favorites” collection from Benjamin Moore because of it’s versatility.

Is Tan Paint Coming Back in Style?

Judging by the color palettes that Benjamin Moore and other major paint brands like Sherwin Williams are curating, then yes, tans and warmer colors in trending more than grays and cooler colors are.

Grays have been popular for several years but styles go in cycles and warmer colors are more in style now. Greige paint colors are a nice way to bridge the gap between grays and beiges.

See the most recent color predictions here:

• 2023 Benjamin Moore color trends and color of the year
• 2023 Sherwin Williams color palette and color of the year

What’s the LRV of Manchester Tan?

It has an LRV, or light reflective value, of 63.24 indicating that it’s a medium light color.

Is Manchester Tan warm or cool?

It’s definitely a warm color but is still neutral. You can use almost any color with it except cool grays.

What are the lighter colors of Manchester Tan?

The next lighter shade of Manchester Tan is Spring in Aspen 954.

What trim colors go with Manchester Tan?

The best trim colors for Manchester Tan are Chantilly Lace OC-65 for a crisp white contrast. Or for a more subtle contrast the best trim color is Cloud White OC-130.

What rooms look good painted with Manchester Tan?

It looks great in any room but especially those that face north. That’s because it has warm undertones, and rooms that face north don’t get any direct sunlight and appear cooler. Colors with warm undertones balance or warm up those spaces.

Rooms Painted with Manchester Tan

Although it’s a great neutral, theses photos illustrate something very important…color looks different in each room, depending on the lighting and other elements that are located in the space. 

Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan Living Rooms

Here’s Manchester Tan on a sunny day paired with cool aquas and lime greens.  It looks like a creamy tan in this setting.  The bold accent colors look beautiful with it.

In this space, there isn’t quite as much natural light as the previous photo and the color looks a little “cooler”, or grayer.  Cooler colors are those with blue, purple, green or gray undertones.  Warmer colors are the ones with yellow, red, orange and warm brown undertones.

Pairing Manchester Tan with warmer accent colors can also make it take on a grayer appearance.  It sounds crazy, I know, but trust me.  Always look at colors next to furnishings and fabrics that will be in the room. 

Dining Rooms Painted with Manchester Tan

This dining room with plenty of large windows demonstrates how paint colors are affected by light. The Manchester Tan walls look bright and light here.

Becca at Adventures in Decorating used Manchester Tan in her dining area with some white ironstone accents.  It looks gorgeous and is a great backdrop for her white accessories.  I love the way it looks in here with her warm hardwood floors. 

From Adventures in Decorating

In this space Manchester Tan pairs nicely with the wood floors, soft gray-green window shade, the light blue ceiling and the rosy sofa.  It’s a perfect complement to the soft accent colors.

Contemporary Family Room by Dc Metro Interior Designers & Decorators Liz Levin Interiors

The walls and ceilings in the sitting area painted with Manchester Tan have just the right amount of color to make the molding stand out.  Don’t you wish you had a sweet reading nook like this one?  I know I do!

Traditional Bedroom by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Billy Beson Company

Home Office Painted with Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan

By painting the walls and cabinets in this office in the same color, the setting is calm and peaceful.  Some would say it’s boring, but I think it would be a nice place to get some work done without being distracted by lots of bold colors and accents.

Traditional Home Office by Mississauga Interior Designers & Decorators Jacqueline Glass and Associates

Bedroom Painted with Manchester Tan

Manchester Tan HC-81 Recap

Let’s recap all the main things to remember about Manchester Tan.

• The LRV of Manchester Tan is 63.24
• It has undertones of yellow and orange
• Manchester Tan is a warm tan
• It looks great with white or warm off white trim colors
• Use it on walls, cabinets, built-ins, trim, and exteriors

I hope you’ve found this post helpful and inspiring.  Let me know if you’ve used Manchester Tan before or if you have another favorite paint color.

My favorite, no-fail neutrals are found in this post: