THE 8 BEST BLACK PAINT COLOURS: Benjamin Moore & ...

THE BEST SHADES OF BLACK FOR WALLS, DOORS, CABINETS, & MORE

I’m back, and I’m back in black (ACDC reference for all you headbangers). Black is undoubtedly one of the most popular shades for front doors. However, today’s trends have us seeing black on feature walls, kitchen cabinets, and islands – even entire exteriors are painted black.

But not ALL blacks are created equal. Just like the 5 Types of White, there are also MANY types of black – 16, to be exact.

However, in the real world of useable paint colors, this doesn’t mean you must choose between 16 TYPES of black colors. Oh no, you get to choose between HUNDREDS of versions of these 16 types (insert wine HERE)

Which is why I’ve written this blog post for you. I’ve narrowed down the BEST black paint colors and their undertones. This way, you can focus on the best of the best and find the one that best suits you and your home.

BUT FIRST, let’s do a little learnin’…

 

THE 3 TYPES OF BLACK PAINT COLORS (TEMPERATURE)

Black can be made in several ways, the most common being the mix of red, blue, and yellow (primary colors).

Of course, it’s not you doing the mixing, and long story short, when you slightly alter the amounts of red, blue, and yellow, you shift between warm black, cool black, and true black.

Sherwin Williams Pure White & Tricorn Black

1. WARM BLACK

Warm blacks have a bit of brown in them. The more brown a black has in it, the less black it will look – eventually, it will just be dark brown. Some warm blacks pick up a touch of purple/violet.

 

2. COOL BLACK

Cool blacks can have blue, green, or violet undertones – the most popular being blue. You can also get a subtle blend depending on the TYPE of blue, green, or violet you have. For example, blue can be blue-green or blue-violet. Green can be green-blue (cool) or green-yellow (warm). Violet can be violet-blue (cool) or violet-pink (warm). However, while violet-blue makes for a cold black, violet-pink results in a black with a brown-violet undertone (warm).

Am I talking too much? Probably (lucky you – wink wink).

 

3. TRUE BLACK

True black is the real deal – just good old black. However, even the most steadfast black can vary slightly depending on the paint brand (as some brands’ black has a blue undertone right off the get-go).

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black & High Reflective White

 

THE TWO TYPES OF BLACK (INTENSITY)

While there are THREE types of black paint related to temperature, there are only TWO types of black when it comes to intensity.

1. SOFT BLACK

2. BLACK

That’s right; I got REAL creative with that second one. Seriously though, it’s either BLACK and crazy dark, or it’s a soft black and isn’t QUITE as solid.

However, to even be CONSIDERED black in the first place, a color needs to have an LRV lower than seven. But even then, just because a color’s LRV is lower than seven doesn’t mean it’s BLACK.

To be considered ‘black,’ a color must have a low LRV and minimal color (chroma).

For example, Sherwin William’s Anchors Aweigh has an LRV of 3, but because it’s SO STUNNINGLY BLUE…it sure as heck ain’t black.

 

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH TYPE OF BLACK SUITS YOUR HOME?

This is where you step back, and your home steps up to the plate. Most of the time, there should be a defining element on/in your home that tells you which type of black will be best. For example…

• Most exterior stonework suits a warm or true black
• Some exterior brickwork suits a cool black
• Most kitchen countertops suit a true black or warm black
• Warm-toned finishes often suit a warm black, but some can handle a cool black
• Cool-toned finishes always suit a cool black

The above is based on the colors already existing in the finishes, either warm or cool. If your home doesn’t HAVE any black, then you’ll take inspiration from the other colors/temperatures in your finishes.

NOW, are you ready to rumble in the WILD WORLD OF BLACK PAINT COLORS? Let’s get this color, errr, ‘lack of color party’ started.

Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10

PLEASE NOTE, 99% of my photos are from my Online Paint Color Consulting clients. I don’t always have the quality image I need, but I sure as heck have the INFO you’ve been looking for. 

 

1. BENJAMIN MOORE BLACK 2132-10

• LRV 4.56
• NO UNDERTONES
• TRUE BLACK

When it comes to tried-and-true blacks, it’s hard to go wrong with Benjamin Moore Black for general depth and lack of undertones. Black has an LRV of 4.56, making it wicked dark (but not the BLACKEST shade on the market). The important thing is that when you order it, you must say ‘Black 2123-10‘; otherwise, you’ll order ‘Black,’ and they’ll say, ‘WHICH black do you want?‘ It’s allll in the number.

In this next photo, Black 2132-10 looks gorgeous on the front door, accenting the rest of the palette…

Benjamin Moore Steel Wool / Sherwin Williams Creamy

Black 2132-10 has NO noticeable undertone, meaning you get what you get. HOWEVER…this doesn’t mean it’s the blackest black on the market – it’s just Benjamin Moore’s darkest black.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of BLACK HERE

If you’re looking for a BLACKER version, make room for this next shade…

 

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TRICORN BLACK 6258

• LRV 3
• BLUE BUT SO FRACTIONAL IT’S HARDLY WORTH MENTIONING
• TRUE BLACK

Between Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, Tricorn Black is the BLACKEST black and as close to pitch black as you’ll get on the residential market. Now, this doesn’t mean Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10 doesn’t do the job equally, as it does – its LRV is just a bit higher than Tricorn Black’s LRV of 3.

If you’re looking for a shade that’s pretty darn safe and predictable, Tricorn Black is the perfect shade (same goes for Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10) – it’s as black as a stack of black cats. The main reason why it’s so popular is that it’s Sherwin Williams’s most true black paint color and has the LEAST undertone of all the blacks.

Here’s Tricorn Black in my old home office…

My Home Office – A Black & White Affair

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Tricorn Black HERE

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black Paint Color Review

 

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BLACK MAGIC 6991

• LRV 3
• BROWN UNDERTONE
• WARM BLACK

Black Magic LOOKS pretty darn black. However, it has a nugget of WARMTH in it, making it a warm black, especially when compared to a more stark shade of black like Tricorn. Could Black Magic lean TOO warm (brown-violet) with its undertones? It’s doubtful, but in the right natural light (especially southern or afternoon western sun), it will pick up considerable warmth.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Black Magic HERE

 

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CAVIAR 6990

• LRV 3
• VERY MINOR BROWN UNDERTONE
• WARM BLACK

To say that Caviar is a warm gray would be an overstatement. However, in the battle of Caviar vs. Tricorn Black, it is fractionally warmer.

And while both colors have similarly low LRVs, Tricorn Black is a tiny bit darker.

What’s interesting is to compare Black Magic and Caviar; you’d think that Caviar is the darker of the two. However, the numbers don’t lie (let’s be honest, sometimes they do – brands get their LRVs wrong quite often). If you’re comparing Black Magic and Caviar, Black Magic’s warmth can be just a bit more noticeable – that’s the only REAL noticeable difference.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Caviar HERE

 

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GREENBLACK 6994

• LRV 4
• GREEN UNDERTONE
• BLACK

Someone REALLY had their drinking thinking cap on when they named this one. I’m sure you can guess which undertone Greenblack has. You guessed it – purple. Just joking.

Greenblack is a green-black with an LRV of 4, making it strikingly dark. And while the undertone can show up at the party, especially where light hits, it’s muted at best.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Greenblack HERE

Green can be warm (green-yellow) or cool (green-blue). Greenblack is a COOL green-black.

 

6. BENJAMIN MOORE TWILIGHT ZONE LRV 5.11

• LRV 5.11
• BLUE UNDERTONE
• BLACK

If you want a black with a blue undertone but find Wrought Iron a bit too light, Twilight Zone could be your shade. With an LRV of 5.11, Twilight Zone is strikingly dark with only a touch of softness.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Twilight Zone HERE

 

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS IRON ORE 7069

• LRV 6
• GREEN UNDERTONE
• SOFT BLACK

Iron Ore is a soft black (and one of my faves). Along with its LRV of 6, which is higher than most of the shades on this page, it also has a very subtle green undertone. This undertone doesn’t always show up, but when it does, it’s usually on an exterior or when it’s compared/partnered with a darker, more legit black paint color.

While some find Iron Ore to be more like a charcoal gray, and it can look that way COMPARED to a sharper shade of black, Iron Ore really IS a soft black thanks to its depth (LRV) and lack of solid undertones.

FULL Color Review of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Iron Ore HERE

 

8. BENJAMIN MOORE WROUGHT IRON

• LRV 8.17
• BLUE UNDERTONE
• SOFT BLACK

Truth be told, Wrought Iron is definitely taking advantage of the word ‘black.’

Why?

Sherwin Williams Eider White walls, Wrought Iron doors

Because while Wrought Iron is darn dark, with its LRV of 8.17, it’s a toss-up whether it’s a soft black paint color or just a SUPER DARK gray with blue undertones. Either way, Wrought Iron is one of my FAVORITE darker shades. In the absence of any other black around and in a space with no direct natural light, Wrought Iron can LOOK black…ish, but that softness is always there.

Really, Wrought Iron is more of a dark charcoal with blue undertones than black.

Wrought Iron offers a dark but not stark approach. So, if you’re trying to find a color for your front door, shutters, accent wall, or kitchen island, and black is just a bit too sharp, colors like Wrought Iron and Iron Ore can be great alternatives. If you think Wrought Iron could work for you, COMPARISON IS KEY – order a sample of Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart as well.

Wrought Iron shutters, Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray trim

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Wrought Iron HERE

 

COLORS THAT AREN’T ACTUALLY BLACK

According to many online sources, any color with an LRV lower than 10 with a somewhat neutral approach is ‘black.’ Don’t be fooled! To be black, the LRV should be approx. six or lower, and the degree of color (chroma) should be minimal.

Here’s a list of colors that AREN’T black, no matter how you look at them. However, if you’re looking for a SOFTER approach, they could be just the ticket…

• Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart
• Sherwin Williams Peppercorn
• Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (as previously mentioned, it’s questionable)
• Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
• Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain
• Farrow & Ball Railings
• Sherwin Wiliams Black Fox – NOT black, definitely a gray-brown (with a subtle green undertone)

I’ll write a blog post on the above colors as the ‘next best things to black’ – stay tuned!

The 8 Best Front Door Paint Colors

 

BEST BLACK WITH MORE OBVIOUS BLUE, GREEN, OR PURPLE UNDERTONES

Sometimes, you want more commitment to color while still getting an overall ‘blackish’ paint color. I’ve rounded up a few of my faves, some from the above list, as well as a few new ones to explore.

BEST BLACK WITH PURPLE UNDERTONE

Purple is one of the more popular undertones in black, especially for coordinating with exterior stonework (same with blue-black).

• Benjamin Moore Universal Black
• Sherwin Williams Domino

 

BEST BLACK WITH BLUE UNDERTONES

Other than straight-up black, black-blue is the most popular, asked for color in the black family (especially for kitchen islands).

• Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
• Sherwin Williams Inkwell

 

BEST WARM BLACK

• Sherwin Williams Black Magic

 

BEST BLACK WITH GREEN UNDERTONES

Some green-blacks lean warm, others cool. Comparing these colors will help you see which is best for your home. Green-blacks are most commonly used on feature walls, same with blue-blacks.

• Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
• Sherwin Williams GreenBlack

 

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

WHAT ARE BENJAMIN MOORE’S & SHERWIN WILLIAM’S MOST POPULAR BLACK PAINT COLORS?

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore and Tricorn Black are ahead of all shades of black from Benjamin Moore (according to Samplize Peel & Stick stats). As for Benjamin Moore’s most popular shade, Black Magic and Onyx come out on top. PERSONALLY, Tricorn Black and Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10 are my two most recommended shades.

 

WHAT’S THE BEST BLACK PAINT COLOR TO USE ON WALLS?

While it can depend on the needs of your room (re: undertones), generally speaking, Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black and Iron Ore are two of the most popular blacks for interior walls, but as shown in this next photo, look WICKED pretty on built-in cabinets, too…

 

WHAT FINISH OR SHEEN SHOULD BLACK WALLS BE – FLAT, EGGSHELL, SATIN?

For the average home and room, MOST walls suit a washable matte finish (i.e., Benjamin Moore ScuffX). This goes for most dark walls. Dark paint colors in semi or high-gloss finishes can look garish unless…

• the wall is perfectly smooth, as sheen/gloss will enhance any flaws or texture
• the person applying the paint is a professional to avoid FLASHING (not the good kinda flashing either – I mean, who doesn’t love a good moon?)
• the style of the home suits a glossy wall finish

Regarding cabinets and built-ins, the best finish is most often satin/pearl. As for front doors and even interior doors, satin is a gorgeous way to show off your black paint color without making it too reflective – semi-gloss is really the max you’d want…

 

WILL BLACK WALLS MAKE MY ROOM LOOK SMALLER OR BIGGER?

While a LOT of it comes down to perception, black can give the illusion of more space as the corners tend to recede. This can make a room look bigger than expected, with more depth and drama. However, many find dark colors too enclosing or claustrophobic, so again, it comes down to personal perception.

 

WHAT’S THE BEST BLACK FOR THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

First off, SHOULD you paint your exterior black? Heck, yes, if it suits the style of your home and its existing finishes (windows/roof/stone), black can be striking. Just remember that it’s a TREND, and trends constantly cycle out. If you don’t care about trends, fill your lil black boots.

5 STEPS: How to Choose the Best Paint Color for Your Exterior

If you’re painting your exterior trim, Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black and Iron Ore are awesome shades, depending on which best suits the siding color/stone/roof/etc…

If you’re painting your entire home black, both are still super popular, but I’d throw Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron and Black 2132-10 into the mix as well.

READ MORE

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The 10 Best DARK Gray Paint Colors

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

How to Choose an Accent Wall Color & Where to Put It

How to De-Beige Your Home

 

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Are you thinking about painting your interior walls black? Hopping on this hot interior painting trend can be a quick way to update your home interior and create an elegant aesthetic. While black paint can be a bold statement, it is also considered a classic color that complements many types of furniture and decor. Follow these tips for using black paint in your home to beautifully transform your space and bring it into the 21st century.

1) Paint the Right Surfaces Black

When you’re considering painting your walls black, it’s important to first choose which surfaces to paint. This can be your walls or other elements such as trim or doors. While black paint can look sophisticated in rooms of all sizes, it can make a room overly dark or uninviting if you don’t paint the proper surfaces. Consider the following before your interior painting team begins the paint job. 

• Paint an accent. If you aren’t sure if you should paint an entire room black, you can always paint an accent first. Whether you are painting a large or small room, painting just one accent wall, door, or even your ceiling black can add sophistication and depth to your space. In a small space, a dark accent wall paired with three lighter walls in white or cream can actually make it seem more spacious.
• Paint the tallest wall in the room. If the room you wish to paint has a slanted ceiling and uneven walls, painting the tallest of your walls black is a great option if you’re looking to create a focal point. Painting the rest of the walls in a lighter color will make the room feel larger and brighter – this is especially true when you paint walls lighter around windows.
• Paint your entire hallway or powder room black. Black can actually be a gorgeous and surprising color choice for small powder rooms or hallways in your home. Just be sure to paint your baseboards and trim in a white or cream to create much-needed contrast.

2) Choose the Right Black Paint & Sheen

Once you know which room you would like to paint black, it’s important to also choose the right black paint and sheen to complement the room you’re painting.

• Cool black paints contain blue or violet undertones. These are perfect if you are painting your interior trim or doors in soft blues or other cool colors. They also work well with bold and bright hues found in decor and furniture and can look great when painted on every wall in a room. Try Black Flame by PPG Paints.
• Warm black paints contain brown or true black undertones. Warm blacks are extremely versatile and can be ideal if you want to purchase accents, decor, or furniture after painting. Try Black Magic by PPG Paints on an accent wall, trim, or even cabinetry.

Remember to also choose your sheen or finish carefully. While matte black paint may look the best to you, it isn’t as durable as eggshell or satin blacks. This means a matte black probably won’t work best in a kitchen, child’s room, or other high-traffic areas. A high-quality professional painting company will offer free in-home color consultations to help you choose the right paint color and finish for the surface or room you’re looking to paint.

3) Pay Attention to Lighting

Black paints absorb light, so you want to make certain that the space you’re painting black is well-lit. This can be from natural light or the proper light fixtures. If you don’t have enough light in a black room, it will feel constricting and boxy — not cozy. Keep the following in mind:

• If the room is small and has just one window, use it to your advantage. Try leaning a larger floor mirror or hanging one on the opposing wall from the window. This will help create more natural light during the day and open up the space.
• If the room is small and doesn’t have windows (think a powder room or guest bath), it’s important to use an overhead light or sconces with plenty of wattage.
• For any room you paint black, always use proper lighting. This can come in the form of higher-wattage overhead lights, wall lights, and floor lamps. A good tip is to keep your lighting on dimmers so you can create the proper mood throughout the day. While you may want a brighter space during the day, you may also want a more relaxing feel at night.

4) Blend and Contrast

Choosing decor, furniture, and accents that both blend and contrast with black walls can make your space look more cohesive and inviting. Here’s how to make your decorative elements work with black walls.

• Use the black wall color at least once more in the room. This will help tie the room together and make it appear more spacious. You may want to think about purchasing a large furniture piece in black. This will help your dining table, credenza, or bookcase blend in nicely with the rest of the room. Or you could even use a rug or other small accents to tie everything together.
• You should also make sure to include contrasting colors to offset the dark hues (e.g. brighter throw pillows, a bold sofa, a cream headboard, white picture frames, a coffee table in a contrasting hue, etc.). This will make an otherwise too-dark room feel lighter, airier, and cozier.

Choose Professional Interior Painters

If you’re wanting to paint your walls black, it’s always important to call on professional interior painters for help. They are experts at painting interior walls and use the right tools and techniques to give your home a flawless, lasting finish. Sharper Impressions proudly paints homes in Columbus, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Nashville, and Atlanta. Get your free interior painting quote today!

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