Black paint is terrifying. Most homeowners walk into a Sherwin-Williams store, look at a swatch of Tricorn Black, and think, "Yeah, that looks black enough." Then they get it home, slap it on the kitchen cabinets, and suddenly the whole room feels like a cold, sterile laboratory or a literal cave. You’ve probably seen the Pinterest fails. The truth is that Sherwin Williams black paint colors are rarely just "black." They are deep, dark chameleons influenced by light, LRV, and tricky undertones that only reveal themselves at 4:00 PM on a Tuesday.
Choosing the wrong black is a permanent mistake—or at least an expensive one to prime over.
The LRV Secret Nobody Tells You
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is basically a scale from 0 to 100. Zero is a black hole that consumes all light. 100 is pure white. In the world of Sherwin Williams black paint colors, you are usually playing in the sandbox between 2 and 6. It sounds like a tiny range. It isn't.
A jump from an LRV of 3 to an LRV of 6 is a massive shift in how a room breathes. Tricorn Black (SW 6258) has an LRV of 3. It is incredibly dark. It is the "true black" of the lineup because it lacks strong undertones. If you want a door to look like it was dipped in ink, this is your winner. But if you put it in a room with no windows? You’re living in a box. Contrast that with Iron Ore (SW 7069), which has an LRV of 6. Those three points make it feel like a very dark charcoal rather than a bottomless pit. Designers like Shea McGee often lean into these "off-blacks" because they provide the drama without the claustrophobia.
Why Undertones Are Your Worst Enemy
Colors have "parent" colors. A black isn't just black; it’s usually a very, very concentrated version of navy, forest green, or deep purple.
Take Black Fox (SW 7020). On the strip, it looks dark. On your siding? It’s brown. It has a heavy warm undertone that makes it look like dark chocolate in direct sunlight. If you wanted a crisp, modern look, Black Fox will disappoint you because it feels "muddy." On the flip side, Black Magic (SW 6991) has a slight warmth but stays truer to a traditional black than Black Fox ever could. Then there is Peppercorn (SW 7674). People call it black. It’s not. It’s a very moody gray that can flash blue in northern light.
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The Mount Rushmore of Sherwin Williams Black Paint Colors
If you’re overwhelmed, you basically have four heavy hitters that account for about 80% of designer picks.
Tricorn Black (SW 6258) is the king. It’s the safest bet if you hate undertones. Because it’s so neutral, it works on shutters, front doors, and even baseboards. It doesn't lean blue. It doesn't lean brown. It just exists. It’s the color of a tuxedo.
Iron Ore (SW 7069) is the "cool kid" of the bunch. It’s technically a deep, deep charcoal. If you’re doing a feature wall in a bedroom, Iron Ore is usually better than Tricorn because it has a softness to it. It’s easier on the eyes. In a room with lots of natural light, you’ll see the gray. In a dark room, it looks black. It’s versatile.
Caviar (SW 6990) is where things get sophisticated. It’s slightly warmer than Tricorn Black but not as brown as Black Fox. It feels "expensive." If you have gold hardware or unlacquered brass fixtures, Caviar is the backdrop they were born for. It has an LRV of 3, so it’s just as dark as Tricorn, but that tiny hint of warmth prevents it from feeling cold.
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Greenblack (SW 6994) is the dark horse. Literally. It’s a black that is heavily infused with green. In most indoor settings, you’d swear it was black. But put it on an exterior surrounded by trees? It comes alive. It’s earthy. It’s the "biophilic" version of black paint.
The Finish Will Make or Break You
You could pick the perfect color and still ruin the project with the wrong sheen. This is a fact.
Black paint in a Flat finish looks like a chalkboard. It’s beautiful but impossible to clean. Touch it with a greasy finger? That mark is there forever.
Satin is the sweet spot for interior walls and cabinets. It gives a slight glow that allows the light to catch the edges of the trim, which prevents the black from looking like a flat void.
Gloss or High Gloss is for the bold. A high-gloss Tricorn Black front door is the height of luxury, but your prep work must be flawless. Black paint hides nothing. If there is a tiny dent in your wood or a brush stroke left behind, a dark, glossy finish will magnify it like a telescope.
Real World Application: Exterior vs. Interior
Don't ever pick a black paint color inside a store under those flickering fluorescent lights. You have to take the samples outside.
Natural sunlight washes everything out. A color that looks like a deep, midnight black in your living room will look like a medium gray on your siding at noon. If you want your house to look "black," you actually need to go darker than you think. Urban Bronze (SW 7048)—the 2021 Color of the Year—is a perfect example. Inside, it’s a moody, dark bronze-black. Outside, it often just looks like a sophisticated, warm gray.
If you are painting a fence, go for something like Bohemian Black (SW 6988). It has a slight violet undertone that looks incredible against green foliage. The green of the leaves pops against the subtle purple-black of the wood.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Ignoring the ceiling: If you paint your walls Tricorn Black but leave the ceiling "Stark White," you create a harsh line that can make the room feel shorter. Consider a "soft white" like Alabaster or even painting the ceiling the same black for a "jewel box" effect.
- The "One Coat" Lie: You cannot paint a wall black in one coat. I don't care what the label says. To get the true depth of these Sherwin Williams black paint colors, you need at least two, sometimes three coats. Use a gray primer first. It sounds counterintuitive, but a deep gray primer helps the black achieve its true pigment faster than painting over a white wall.
- Forgetting the Floor: Black walls reflect the floor. If you have orange-toned oak floors, a "cool" black like Black Magic might start looking a bit weird. You need to balance the "temperature" of the room.
Why Light Direction Changes Everything
North-facing rooms get cool, bluish light. If you put a cool black in a north-facing room, it will feel chilly. You might want something with a hint of warmth like Caviar to balance it out.
South-facing rooms get that warm, golden glow. This is where Iron Ore shines. The sun brings out the complexities of the charcoal pigments, making the room feel dynamic throughout the day. It’s honestly incredible how much a color shifts from 9:00 AM to sunset.
If you're still stuck, look at Greenblack. It’s one of those colors that feels historic and modern at the same time. It has a "heritage" feel that works in older homes with lots of character, but it’s sharp enough for a new construction's primary suite.
Sample, Sample, Sample
Do not buy a gallon yet. Go buy the $5-10 "Color to Go" samples or use Samplize peel-and-stick sheets. Put them on every wall of the room. Look at them at night with your lamps on. Look at them in the morning. Black is a commitment. It’s the most dominant choice you can make in interior design, and it demands respect.
Practical Next Steps for Your Project
- Identify your lighting: Determine if your room faces North (cool light) or South (warm light) before narrowing down your black paint swatches.
- Pick three samples: Choose one "true" black (Tricorn Black), one "off-black" charcoal (Iron Ore), and one with a "moody" undertone (Greenblack or Black Fox).
- Test against trim: Hold your samples up against your existing flooring and trim. If your trim is a creamy white, avoid the blue-blacks.
- Use a gray primer: When you're ready to paint, ask the Sherwin Williams associate to tint your primer to a deep gray (P6 or P7 grade). This ensures the final black is rich and uniform.
- Commit to the sheen: Choose Satin for walls to hide imperfections while still reflecting a bit of life, or Semi-Gloss for trim and doors for a classic, high-contrast look.