The Best Black Paint Colors

Yes, black paint colors can be mysterious and dark. But they can also be elegant, sophisticated, and dramatic.

I feel like shades of black have been on the up and up and you are seeing them being used often on front doors, walls, exteriors, etc. And for good reason, these bold, dark colors are gorgeous and so dang versatile.

Believe it or not, black paint colors also have undertones that can make some lean warm and others lean cool.

The key to using black paint colors or any dark paint color is balance. If you were to paint your walls black, with dark flooring and dark furniture, the space may come off unbalanced and heavy.

The trick to incorporating them seamlessly is creating balance wherever you plan to use the color.

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Black Satin by Benjamin Moore is a very popular black paint color. This color is from the blue hue family.

Black satin has a softness to it that makes it an incredibly versatile black paint color.

Meghan @meghanandmarco on Instagram painted her railing using Black Satin and it was a perfect choice. I personally think a classic black railing is so timeless and elegant.

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BM Onyx is one of the most popular Benjamin Moore black paint colors. This color is from the red hue family, and that red in it gives it the slightest amount of warmth. You will see that warmth, especially when you compare Onyx to another black paint color.

Briana @itstikigirl on Instagram, painted her interior door using BM Oynx and it looks like the perfect neutral black paint color. It also is an amazing paint color to pair with honey oak wood.

READ MORE: HOW TO PAINT INTERIOR DOORS

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Sherwin Williams Caviar comes from the purple/purple-red hue family. This is a soft color that has a ton of depth to it. Depending on the lighting, fixed elements, etc., in your home, Caviar has the potential to come off warmer than some of the other black colors.

Try using it in a North-facing room to reduce the warmth coming through.

I’m utterly obsessed with how Brianna themoderncolonial on Instagram used SW Caviar on her board and batten accent wall. The black accent wall is the perfect addition to the room.

It’s also important to note how well this paint color looks with the dark wood.

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Black Magic by Sherwin Williams is an elegant and chic black paint color. It’s right in the middle of the red and red-purple hue family.

Black Magic is such a strikingly unique black paint color. Compared to some of the other black paint shades, Black Magic is a smidge warmer. It’s a shade of black that looks exceptionally beautiful in a satin or eggshell sheen.

Kelsey @shininglite88 on Instagram used Black Magic in her bedroom, and it looks absolutely amazing.

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Tricorn Black is Sherwin Williams best selling black paint color. It comes from the purple-blue hue family. There aren’t any true notable undertones I’ve seen with Tricorn Black. Of the many times I’ve used this popular black paint color, it has always looked like a neutral black.

I opted to go with Tricorn Black on the fireplace I built in my master bedroom. I find it to be the perfect classic shade of black to use anywhere: exteriors, doors, walls, etc.

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You get what you see with Benjamin Moore Black. It is black. This bad boy comes from the purple/blue hue family. However, it stays pretty neutral, not shifting warm or cool.

Black is the darkest black paint color on this list and is pretty comparable to SW Tricorn Black.

BM Black is a versatile color that will enhance any space you use it. Pair it with a crisp white like BM Chantilly Lace, and you have yourself a match made in heaven.

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SW Iron Ore is part of the green/yellow hue family. It has a low chroma, which means it is not a saturated color, and you won’t be seeing any trace of the green/yellow hue family.

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore is one of my personal off-black paint colors AKA dark charcoal gray. The reason I like Iron Ore is that it’s a softer version of black, yet it still has the dark and moody feel to it.

This is a great off-black shade that never fails to please.

Molly @vintage_virginian on Instagram used Iron Ore and it’s the perfect addition to her beautifully decorated living space.

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Black of Night by Sherwin Williams is a black paint color with a blue undertone. This fantastic shade of black complements blue paint colors beautifully. It’s more of a cool-toned black compared to some of the other black paints on this list.

I love how @byebyebuildergrade on Instagram used SW Black of Night. It’s such a fun way to create an accent wall simply using paint. The other colors used were Sherwin Williams Dignity Blue, Pure White, Agreeable Gray, Waterfall, and Aquarium.

SW Black Fox Is such a unique black paint color. Now, it’s not a true black. Its hue family is in the middle of yellow-red and red. You can see that Black Fox has a very rich brownish undertone, which comes from the red/yellow hue family.

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If you are looking for a dark yet warm, non-black paint color, I highly suggest checking out SW Black Fox.

I love how Sarah @thelshapedhouse, on Instagram, incorporated Black Fox in her living room. It gives the space a dramatic effect without going overboard or looking heavy. It also is a great paint color to go with light wood.

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Sherwin Williams After the Storm is a newer paint color. It’s a part of the Emerald Designer Edition – Classic + Collected Collection.

After the storm comes from the blue, blue-purple hue family. This is a very dark color, but unlike some of the others on this list, it’s a bit more saturated. This is one of the black paint colors that have a slight blue undertone to it.

I feel the Sherwin Williams was spot on with the name of this paint color, If you like a black paint color with a bit of a blue undertone, I highly suggest checking out After the Storm.

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Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron is another off-black paint color. It is in the blue/ blue-purple hue family. It’s soft and muted with more of a dark charcoal feel to it. If you find most black paint colors to be a bit too dark, try Wrought Iron.

Cail @caileighlangford on Instagram killed it with her she shed. The Wrought Iron on the exterior paired with the wood tones of the door is a match made in heaven.

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Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore is precisely what its name entails: beauty. This color comes from the red hue family, which gives it a tiny bit of warmth.

The elegance of Black Beauty makes it such a fantastic shade of black to use anywhere from a front door to an accent wall in a home gym.

As proof, check out how @mango.wood.interiors painted the shiplap using Benjamin Moore Black Beauty in her remarkable home gym.

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Raccoon Fur by Benjamin Moore is from the blue hue family. It is a gorgeous shade that screams pure elegance. This soft off-black paint color is dramatic enough to make a statement, and boy, will it ever.

@3legsandagoose on Instagram used Racoon Fur and I have to say it looks awesome, It looks exactly like a soft black and it couldn’t be more perfect of a paint color.

Also, she refinished that gorgeous piece of furniture, and I’m obsessed with her super sweet pup.

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Benjamin Moore Soot is another absolutely stunning black paint color with a blue undertone. Any guesses of what its hue family is? Yup, blue. And thanks to those, Soot leans slightly cooler but not too cool.

Soot is a stunningly saturated gray-black color. It’s a fantastic alternative to a true black paint color.

Jess @jessbuildit on Instagram, used Benjamin Moore Soot in her office. And all I can say is wow. The high ceilings, along with the ample amount of natural light pouring in through the windows, allow the beauty of the paint color to shine. Also, can we just take a moment to admire how talented Jess is? She built and transformed this office herself.