Best Black Paint Colors for Interior & Exterior

Dec. 06, 2023

Look no further for that perfect black paint as I’ve rounded up the best black paint colors for your home that are perfect inside or out! After much personal trial and error, and several samples of black paint, I narrowed down a list of favorites to share with you.

When we realized we were moving to a property in Tennessee, that had a barn in our backyard, I knew I wanted to go dark. Growing up in New England I have seen my share of lovely old antique barns and the black barns were among my favorite. Although I LOVE a classic white barn it would have been very hard to keep it clean with all the trees. We live more rural now, if we were surrounded with more concrete, perhaps I would have gone with a white or a gray, but painting the barn black was a the best choice. I LOVE IT!!!

Dark exteriors are all the rage and I think they are gorgeous! While I’m not sure I am ready to paint our main house all black I knew I could commit to an all black barn guest house, workshop and woodshed and compliment the main house with black shutters to tie the properties together.

The issue – black can be very difficult to select just the right shade. Black paint can look too blue, too green or too grey and lighting has a lot to do with it. Every color will look differently on every house in every lighting, but hopefully these black paint colors will serve as major inspiration for you and point you in the right direction.

Black Paint – Barn Inspiration

This black paint post came about because we needed to find the right black paint color for our barn and I thought it might help to share what we discovered. We knew we wanted to go a shade of black but as stated previously, the right shade of black paint can be hard to nail down. They can be too light, too dark, too blue, too green…we tried several, but before we get into the paints I wanted to share some black barn inspiration photos with you.

When I saw a black barn in person I took a picture of it and have a couple to share with you. I do not know what color black are on these barns, but they inspired my black barn journey.

Keep reading to see which shade of black we chose out of the twelve listed here. We tested seven of the twelve shades and finally came up with a winner.

Front and back picture of black barn in downtown Clifton, VA

The lovely barn at Tranquility Farm in Loudon County, VA

Why Black Paint?

Black is the epitome of style! It’s so timeless and elegant. Think “Little Black Dress” for your walls; it doesn’t need anything else to dress it up.

A black exterior is a striking choice for any home style. It’s authoritative, bold, and a classic. It’s impossible not to make a statement with a black exterior.

Black exterior paint adds drama and depth and makes a strong visual statement. Black paint is great at highlighting architectural design while also complementing its outdoor spaces.

Equally a room that has black interior walls is also bold while still being classic. While we didn’t paint any interior walls black, any of these colors could be used for your interior as well and would look amazing

Black Paint Light Reflective Value (LRV)

Before we dive into the colors let’s talk technical shall we? Paint has something called Light Reflective Value or LRV. What may help you in determining the best black for your space is to consider the Light Reflectance Value number or LRV.

On a scale of 0-100, true black is zero and pure white is 100. So the closer to 0 will show how dark the color is and the farther you move away from 0, will show how much white is added to the black.

You’ll be able to look at the LRV number for any paint color and see that the higher the number, the lighter the color. I do have the LVR’s listed for each paint that I explain so you can use that to base how dark or how light any of these shades truly are. Let’s dive into the paint colors shall we?

Black Barn | Source

Test Black Paint Colors

Black paint can really enhance and transform a space, however it can also be quite intimidating. Testing black hues is very important.

Before you commit to painting your entire exterior black, I strongly suggest you test each and every color you are considering. Do not just read this article (or any other) and select a color from the list and go about painting. You will likely be disappointed. I read all about black paint colors, researched how they would look, but it wasn’t until I tested them until I knew exactly what color to chose.

I tested seven colors on the black color wheel and each of them were very different and not quite what I expected. They looked drastically different than what I thought they would.

Decide whether you want a warm black or a cool black paint color or perhaps you just want the most neutral, true deep black that you can find. Here are 12 black paints to get you going.

12 Black Paints to Chose From

1. Benjamin Moore Soot (LVR 4.11)

This one is often recommended because it is a perfect grey black. It’s more of a warm charcoal instead of a straight black. Soot is a rich black color with cool blue undertones. It makes a statement all on its own, yet pairs perfectly with white as a pop. This is a cooler black.

Benjamin Moore Soot BM 2129-20

2. Valspar Ebony Field (LVR 6.194)

Ebony Field is a deep, dark black with a charcoal influence and looks great on exteriors. One of our Instagram followers suggested we try this color and we did give it a chance.

Valspar Ebony Field | Source

3. Benjamin Moore Nightfall (LVR 6.36)

Nightfall is more of a blackened gray taking its color from the night sky. This one looks great with warmer wood.

Benjamin Moore Nightfall BM 1596

4. Benjamin Moore Black Beauty (LVR 3.26)

After testing eight colors I did not get around to testing Black Beauty. It is very similar to Onyx but not as dark since it has a higher LVR. This is a lovely shade of black and a great go to black color.

Benjamin Moore Black Beauty BM 2128-10

5. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (LVR 3)

This black paint color rivals BM Black Beauty and Onyx. Tricorn Black is a neutral color that is void of any undertones! It is for all intents and purposes and quite lovely. This color is pure, refined, and unblended.

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258

6. Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (LVR 10)

This black color is loaded with depth and character. Peppercorn is a lighter black since it is a 10 on the LVR scale; this is the second lightest black on the list. This is a gorgeous color both inside and out if you are looking for a lighter shade of black.

Sherwin Williams Peppercorn SW 7674

7. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (LVR 6)

Iron Ore is similar to BM Wrought Iron so we didn’t test it. It is a tried and true color and used a lot for interiors and exteriors alike. It is a dark, inky, charcoal gray paint color that I truly love.

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore SW 7069

8. Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal (LVR 12.96)

Kendall Charcoal HC166 is a versatile neutral, it also works well with most color schemes. It can feel green or gray in different lights and to me it’s a bit of a chameleon and changes colors with different lighting situations. This color is rich and deep without being too dark as it is the lightest color in our line up in this post. Kendall Charcoal is a great shade and was in our dining room when we moved into our home.

9. Benjamin Moore Graphite (LVR 5.66)

Graphite is part of the Classic Color Collection and is a near neutral color from the Blue Hue Family. It has very little color to it at all, but you may sense blueness but it’s not because of its blue undertones – its certain lighting.

Benjamin Moore Graphite 1603

10. Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (LVR 6.16)

Meet Wrought Iron. This dark shade of blue-black is a worry-free workhorse for about any space. You may see this one categorized as a dark grey too. It really is a muted version of black and really not harsh whatsoever.

Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron BM 2124-10

11. Benjamin Moore Mopboard Black (LVR 4.27)

Mopboard Black CW 680 is one of the most stunning black colors that Benjamin Moore has to offer. It is refined, sophisticated, and the model for elegance. We used Mopboard Black on the interior front and back door of our Virginia house and liked the touch of black that wasn’t too stark.

12. Benjamin Moore Onyx (LVR 2.9)

Onyx BM 2133-10 by Benjamin Moore is a fan favorite for good reason. It is a dark black with little or no undertones which is a huge plus! Onyx has smooth hues with undertones that are warmer compared to other black paint colors.

Final Thoughts on Black Paint

If you are looking to add some drama and elegance to your space, either inside or out, then reach for a black paint color and take a walk on the wild side. Any of these 12 shades would be perfect inside or out, but don’t take my word for it; grab some sample cans and test them first.

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They will each look differently inside as opposed to outside and even differently on various interior walls. Keep in mind lighting plays a huge role when choosing any paint color but think it can be more tricky especially when working with black.

So…would you ever paint your house, room or an accent wall black? Would love to know your thoughts on this bold and dramatic hue!

We can’t wait to get started on our barn and shop painting projects and see our space come to life.

Happy Painting and Decorating friends! Stay tuned for our black painted barn; it’s being worked on right now!

Best Black Paint Colors for Interior & Exterior

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When it comes to black paint, there are a range of color options. Some black paint colors are a charcoal gray, some are navy-black, others have a warm brown tone. If you are researching shutter colors, trim colors, front door colors, or moody dark interior colors this article will help you narrow down the best black paint to complement your home (before you paint your front door!).

While I worked to capture each swatches’ true color, the colors below are a digital representation and will vary some from the actual paint colors. The finish of your paint (semi-gloss, satin, and flat) will also impact how the color looks on your walls or exterior.

Scroll down for more information about each black paint color with swatches and examples of colors on doors, shutters, and interiors.

Quick Tip: This article includes the RGB and LRV value for each black paint color. RGB represents how much Red, Green, and Blue is in each color. On the LRV scale, O absorbs all light (black) and 100 reflects all light (white).

This article contains affiliate links. If you click a link and purchase an item, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Full disclosure here.

7 Best Black Paint Colors By Sherwin-Williams

1. Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore, SW 7069

SW Iron Ore is a popular dark gray charcoal paint color often used on doors, exteriors, furniture, and accent walls. Iron Ore is a lighter shade of black than Tricorn Black, Black Magic, and Caviar.

Iron Ore is part of the Pottery Barn Spring/Summer 2020 Color Collection.

R: 67 G: 67 B: 65 LRV: 6

below image source of SW Iron Ore on front door: Fox Hollow Cottage

below image source of SW Iron Ore on hand rail: Thistle Key Lane

2. Sherwin-Williams Black Fox, SW 7020

SW Black Fox lives on a different swatch than the majority of blacks I recommend in this article. Black Fox shares the swatch with Repose Gray, Mindful Gray, and Dorian Gray.

This chocolate color is a rich blend of black and brown, and would go well on garage doors, trim, and entryway doors. Black Fox is part of the Pottery Barn Spring/Summer 2020 Color Collection.

R: 79 G: 72 B: 66 LRV: 7

below image source of SW Black Fox on shutters: Painted by Kayla Payne

below image source of SW Black Fox in office: Rue Mag

3. Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black, SW 6258

SW Tricorn Black lives in the neutral paint family and is a darker shade of black than Iron Ore and Black Fox.

This color is a true black with no strong undertones (if you want true black shutters, this is a good choice). Used frequently on exterior doors, window trim, furniture, and statement walls.

R: 47 G: 47 B: 48 LRV: 3

below image source of SW Tricorn Black on front doors: Home Made Lovely

4. Sherwin-Williams Black Magic, SW 6991

SW Black Magic has the same LRV score as Tricorn Black and Caviar, all three are a true dark black. Black Magic has a touch more red than Tricorn Black making it a feel a tiny bit warmer than Tricorn Black.

R: 50 G: 49 B: 50 LRV: 3

below image source of SW Black Magic on barn door: Angela Rose Home

5. Sherwin-Williams Caviar, SW 6990

SW Caviar lives up to its name as a dark inky black in the neutral paint family. Similar to Tricorn Black but with a little more brown. When I compared Black Magic & Caviar swatches they felt very similar.

R: 49 G: 48 B: 49 LRV:3

below image source of SW Caviar on front door: Our Hammock House

6. Sherwin-Williams Greenblack, SW 6994

SW Greenblack is a modern mix of black and green. A slightly lighter black than Caviar, Black Magic, and Tricorn Black. On a personal note, I selected this color as an option for our front door & shutters (currently painted green).

R:55 G: 58 B: 58 LRV: 4

below image source of SW Greenblack in bedroom: Cassie Bustamante

7. Sherwin-Williams Inkwell, SW 6992

SW Inkwell has more blue than red and green, making it a cooler black paint color. This color could show up as a dark navy-black depending on lighting.

Inkwell would be a good fit for a room you want to go moody/dark like a library, living room, bedroom, or dining room.

R: 49 G: 54 B: 58 LRV: 4

below image source of SW Inkwell in office: Dear Lillie Studio

below image source of SW Inkwell on front door: Tag & Tibby

Samplize offers 12” x 12” peel and stick paint samples for Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Farrow & Ball colors. It is a fun way to test paint colors, and the material is flexible so you can wrap it around corners. I’ve ordered from Samplize for clients in the past, and we found the paint samples really helpful!

I spent several hours narrowing this list to 7 Sherwin-Williams black paint colors. Some black colors have a warm brown tone, others a cool blue tone.

This article was written to help you to narrow down the best color for your front porch, doors, shutters, exteriors, interiors and trim. Select a black paint color that speaks to your aesthetic and blends with your style!