Black paint can make a statement in any space. Black paint can be bold, dramatic, moody, and dark, but can also be elegant, sophisticated and bring needed balance to a space.
In this article, we’ll talk all about black paint colors, including how to use them, where they look best, and leave you with the top 5 black paint colors for your home.
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All About Black Paint
Black paint is an amazing shade to use in your home. Black is the ultimate neutral paint color – it goes with anything and everything.
Black paint can be minimalistic, giving a sleek, modern look. It can also be decadent, imparting a luxe, traditional look.
The key to using black paint well in a space is to use it strategically. Too many dark tones in a room can leave the whole room looking dark and uninspired.
But, when used as a part of a well structured space, black paint can help create a perfectly balanced, visually appealing room.
For example, if you have a lot of dark tones on one side of the room, you can help bring symmetry into the room by adding a touch of black paint on the other side.
Black paint can also be used to draw your eyes to a focal point in the room.
For instance, black paint can create a dramatic accent wall or can highlight built-ins or other woodwork in a room.
How to Use Black Paint in a Room
However black paint is used, there are a few important considerations.
First, use black paint strategically. Dark tones call attention to certain things in a space. Many designers will use black tones to draw the eyes around a space, and tell a person where they should look.
In this room, you can see how dark tones are used to draw the eye through the space, and finally settle on the black painted fireplace.
You can also see how touches of black throughout bring balance to the space. The dark black fireplace is balanced by the white couch and walls. But you also see the symmetry of the colors in the room with the black tray, throw pillows and picture on the wall.
Altogether, black paint is used to create a balanced, aesthetically pleasing room.
To summarize, you can’t use black paint everywhere in a room, or else it will feel to dark and imposing. You also can’t use black tones in only one spot in a space, or it will feel out of balance.
How Do You Pick a Black Paint?
Another important consideration about black paint is the undertones of the black paint you choose.
One question that people frequently have is why their black paint looks blue. Well, this is because of the undertones.
Not all black paint colors are the same. The most common undertones in black paint are blue, green and purple.
Before you choose a black paint for your space, you need to consider the other tones in the space and which black paint will work best. To do this, try to match the tones of the black paint with the overarching tones and look of the rest of the space.
For example, in a kitchen with a lot of steel and cool white tones, a black paint with blue undertones may be best.
But, in a living room with lots of creams and pink tones, a black paint with purple undertones may look nice.
Because black paint can have different undertones, some can be warm and some can be cool. A warm black paint might have brown or warm purple undertones, while cool black paint colors tend to have green or blue undertones.
A true black paint color is one that doesn’t have any noticeable undertones. A true black paint color is more neutral, and doesn’t lean towards any particular color.
Where Can I Use Black Paint?
Black paint can be used anywhere, but the most common places to use black paint are:
- as an accent wall
- on a front door
- on trim
- on a fireplace
- on woodwook
- on interior doors
- on a home exterior
Top 5 Black Paint Colors for Your Home
While some articles will give you 15 amazing black paint colors, this can feel overwhelming to many readers. That is why I have decided to narrow the list of black paint colors down to just the best and most popular black paint colors by Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.
Benjamin Moore Black
Aptly named, Black is the top selling black paint color by Benjamin Moore. It is included in Benjamin Moore’s Favorites Fan Deck, which means it is one of the top 75 best selling paint colors by Ben Moore.
Black is a cool black paint color with blue undertones. Now, if you just picked up a swatch of Black, it would look like a black paint color. But, when you compare it to other black paint colors, such as Tricorn Black, you see a little more of those blue undertones peek through.
Benjamin Moore Black is a true black though, even with those blue undertones.
Benjamin Moore Black is modern and minimalistic. It works well in spaces with other cool tones. Black is a very rich, chic black paint color.
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore is a soft black paint color. It is about as light as black paint colors get before they move into more of a dark, charcoal gray.
When paint colors are painted in a large space, they tend to look bolder. Accordingly, Iron Ore will look darker and richer on your walls or cabinets than it will on the swatch.
While Iron Ore has those soft charcoal tones, it can function like a true black in your space if there are no darker blacks. But, Iron Ore can also act as a soft, grayed out black alongside a true black if you want to add dimension.
Click here for more information about Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.
Benjamin Moore Soot
Benjamin Moore Soot is another popular black paint color. It is a bit deeper than some of the black paint colors on the list, but not as dark as the blackest black, Tricorn Black.
Soot has charcoal and blue undertones that make it sort of like a smokey black paint color. It is a cool shade, that tends to go best with other cool shades.
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
Tricorn Black is a popular Sherwin Williams black paint color. Tricorn Black is a very neutral black, because it doesn’t have any discernable undertones. Tricorn Black looks like a dark, pitch black paint color.
Tricorn Black is a good choice for someone who wants a black paint color but doesn’t want to have to worry about matching undertones. It works with warm and cool tones.
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black is a very classic black paint color that is about the blackest paint color that you can get.
Click here for more information on Tricorn Black.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron, by Benjamin Moore, is another soft black paint color. It is similar to Sherwin Williams Iron Ore. But, while Iron Ore has little in the way of noticeable undertones, Wrought Iron has definite blue undertones.
Wrought Iron also has some charcoal tones in it, giving it its softness.
Click here for all the details on Wrought Iron.
Sherwin Williams Black Magic
Sherwin Williams Black Fox is the warmest black paint color on the list here. Like Iron Ore, Black Fox is a soft black paint color, but with different undertones.
Black Fox has brown undertones that give it its considerable warmth. It also has some charcoal in it, making it a soft black instead of more of a classic black.
If you want Black Fox to look like a black and not a charcoal or brown in your space, it should be the darkest color in the room. If you pair Black Fox with a true black, its brown undertones will show up much more prominently.
Unlike Iron Ore, I probably wouldn’t pair Black Fox with other true blacks in the space, as it may clash.
Wondering How To Pick the Perfect Paint Color?
I have the best solution for you!
Samplize sells peel and stick paint samples in almost every paint color.
These no-mess, peel and stick sheets are made from real paint, so they will show you exactly what the paint color will look like.
Simply place them on your walls next to your trim, furnishings or fixed elements, and easily see which paint color works best in your space and with your lighting.
Then, peel the sheet off your wall and reapply it somewhere else if you like. You can try several different paint colors with no mess, no fuss and no cleaning paint brushes.
Oh, and you can have them in your home by tomorrow with OVERNIGHT shipping!
As a bonus, be sure to use the code LoveRemodeled10 at check out to get an extra 10% off! Samplize sheets are cheaper than a sample can of paint, and way less work.
They are the easiest (and fastest!) way to try a paint color in your home, with no hassle.
Final Thoughts on Black Paint Colors
Black paint can ground a space, highlight specific features in a room, or bring balance. It can be modern or classic, or decadent or minimalistic.
If you are considering using black paint in your home, be sure to check out these top 6 black paint colors to help you narrow down to the right one.
Have a question? Leave me a comment! Remember to check back for a response – it may take me up to a week or two depending on how busy I am, but I’ll be sure to get back to you!
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Want to see all your paint options in one convenient place? Click here to get everything you need to start painting, including Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint color decks!
