15 Black Paint Color Ideas to Add Drama to Any Room

Moody black walls are modern, chic, and inviting

By
Ashley Knierim
Photo of Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

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Updated on 10/07/22
black paint in an interior

The Spruce / Almar Creative

If you want to introduce intrigue and drama into your home decor, there is no better paint color than black. You might have shied away from black in the past, as it is a bold color choice that can be intimidating. But when used intentionally it can look incredibly chic.

Black is a timeless color that goes with everything. And even if you are not ready for totally black walls, you can experiment with black paint on cabinetry, interior doors, and accents to add dimension to your space.

  • Color Family: Black
  • Complementary Colors: N/A
  • Pairs Well With: Black works with virtually any color
  • Mood: Dark, mysterious, dramatic, bold
  • Where to Use: Black paint is good for living areas, bedrooms, doors, cabinetry, trim, and even home exteriors

Find the perfect shade with these top black paint color ideas.

  • 01 of 15

    Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black

    Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black swatch

    The Spruce

    By nature, black is the absence of color, making it the perfect backdrop for nearly every other accent color. One of the richest, most neutral blacks on our list is Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black. This deep, saturated black is void of any undertones, so it will pair beautifully with nearly every other shade. It is a stunning color for a bedroom accent wall or living room but will make a statement in any room.

  • 02 of 15

    Farrow & Ball Off-Black No. 57

    Farrow + Ball Off Black Swatch

    The Spruce

    For a softer, off-black, try Farrow & Ball Off-Black No. 57. Although the size of the room isn't a prerequisite when it comes to painting your walls black (you can make the color work in a large or a small area), this off-black shade works particularly well in smaller spaces. It helps to keep the room relatively light and feeling open while still adding a lot of character.

  • 03 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Jet Black

    Benjamin Moore Jet Black paint swatch

    The Spruce

    This rich jet black from Benjamin Moore is anything but shy. It's a cool, smoky black that is perfect for interior doors, accents, and kitchen cabinets. Pair it with cool, stark whites for a chic, modern look. If you have a smaller space, the high contrast between the dark and light colors will help to keep the black paint from overpowering it while still adding a lot of visual interest.

    Tip

    When going from light to dark walls, it's best to start with a tinted primer. Look for one with as dark of a gray base as you can find. That way, you will be able to cover your walls with the black paint in fewer coats. Likewise, black paint isn't that difficult to cover when using a good primer if you ever want to change up your walls.

  • 04 of 15

    The Spruce Best Home Elevated Black

    The Spruce Paint color swatch in Elevated Black

    The Spruce

    A black paint with undertones is a great way to add depth to your space without it feeling too stark or cold. The Spruce Best Home Elevated Black is a deep black with navy undertones that pairs well with lighter blues, greens, and grays. Colored black paints like this are perfect for living spaces or entryways where you want to add a lot of dimension.

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.
  • 05 of 15

    Behr Beluga

    Behr Beluga paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Behr Beluga is technically a dark gray color, but it looks more similar to a smoky pewter when painted on the wall. The gray undertones in this paint make it a perfect pairing for cool whites and light blue accents. It looks wonderful in bedrooms and bathrooms, where it will pop next to white fixtures, reflective surfaces, and metallic hardware.

  • 06 of 15

    Sherwin-Williams Black Fox

    Sherwin-Williams paint swatch in Black Fox

    The Spruce

    A black with rich brown undertones, such as Sherwin-Williams' Black Fox, is a great way to add warmth to a living room or a dining room. This medium black appears lighter in larger, open spaces and darker in smaller ones. Pair the paint color with beiges or greens for a welcoming, earthy look that feels cozy and classic.

  • 07 of 15

    Magnolia Blackboard

    Magnolia Home paint swatch in Blackboard

    The Spruce

    Appropriately named, Magnolia Blackboard has a vintage feel reminiscent of a classroom blackboard. With its cool gray undertones, this paint color is a refreshing black that has a velvety look. It works well in offices, bedrooms, and other intimate spaces.

  • 08 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Black Beauty

    Benjamin Moore paint color swatch in Black Beauty

    The Spruce

    A warm black, such as Black Beauty from Benjamin Moore, can be an incredibly versatile workhorse paint. It can add richness and depth to a space without feeling too dark or stark. Pair this color with beiges, yellows, or soft oranges to create a luxurious and grounded feel in living rooms, entryways, and dens.

    Tip

    Try experimenting with a black paint color on the ceiling. The color can help to draw the eye up, and it can make a beautiful light fixture really pop.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.
  • 09 of 15

    Valspar Black Evergreen

    Valspar Black Evergreen color swatch

    The Spruce

    If you are a fan of hunter green but you want to keep your walls a little more neutral, a black-green is a great choice. Valspar's Black Evergreen is a gorgeous light black with subtle green undertones that works beautifully in both large and small spaces. The dimension in the color will draw attention to the other details in the room, such as crisp white molding.

  • 10 of 15

    Behr Black Garnet

    Bear Black Garnet color swatch

    The Spruce

    Some black paint colors take on a purplish hue, like Behr's Black Garnet. This rich paint color can lean both formal and casual depending on your decor. And it will really make white trim and doors pop. It is perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms to give off a sophisticated but inviting vibe.

  • 11 of 15

    Farrow & Ball Pitch Black

    Farrow & Ball Pitch Black

    The Spruce

    Pitch Black from Farrow & Ball is named after the "dark sticky residue of coal tar often used in roofing," as true a black as you can find. Not for the timid, this bold, rich, velvety color is an unambiguous black that can be used in smaller doses to add structure to a room, defining ironwork or wooden ceiling beams or built-ins, for example.

  • 12 of 15

    Farrow & Ball Railings

    Farrow & Ball Railings

    The Spruce

    Navy paint has become a go-to color choice in recent years everywhere from kitchen cabinets to living room walls. But if you're looking to take the next step on your journey to the dark side, consider Farrow & Ball's Railings. This soft shade has pronounced blue undertones that read less black than blue, offering an alternative to true black with a midnight sky feel.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.
  • 13 of 15

    Clare Blackish

    Clare Blackish

    The Spruce

    Blackish from Clare paints is a versatile shade of black with a less intense vibe than a true black, creating a statement with a slightly softer look devoid of undertones. This makes it the perfect livable shade of black to experiment with, in a small bathroom, for example, or as an accent wall behind the bed.

  • 14 of 15

    Behr Cracked Pepper

    Behr Cracked Pepper

    The Spruce

    The most interesting colors are those you can't quite pin down, blurring the lines between shades. Behr's Cracked Pepper is a grayish-black with hidden blue undertones that will look more gray or black depending on the orientation of the room and the way the light hits the walls. Pair it with lighter shades of gray for an industrial feel, or shades of green for contrast.

  • 15 of 15

    Clare Blackest

    Clare Blackist

    The Spruce

    With neutral undertones and a jet black finish, Blackest from Clare paints is the ultimate shade for a bold modern accent wall, ceiling, front door, or any other space that needs a dose of high drama with a black-as-night feel.

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