There’s something undeniably chic about a matte black finish. Whether you’re trying to create a bold statement wall or add an element of sophistication to your cabinetry, the right matte black paint can transform any space into a stylish haven.
This versatile hue can be paired with virtually any décor style, making it a favorite among homeowners and interior design enthusiasts.
But with so many shades, how do you decide which matte black suits your home? In this guide, we’ll explore 12 sophisticated matte black paints that will elevate any room in your home.
Take a look!
1. Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (6258) is a designer favorite, renowned for its pure, unapologetic depth. This matte black has an almost velvety quality, providing a rich backdrop that enhances any space.
Its neutral undertones make it an ideal choice for those seeking a black that complements rather than competes with other design elements.
With a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 3, Tricorn Black absorbs the most light, creating an intense, moody atmosphere perfect for feature walls or dramatic exteriors.
This color is ideal for those who appreciate a minimalist aesthetic. Tricorn Black provides a sleek backdrop that highlights your decor and accessories when applied to kitchen cabinets or an accent wall.
Consider pairing it with metallic fixtures or warm wood finishes to add depth and texture to your room. Tricorn Black’s rich tone is particularly striking in spaces with high ceilings or large windows, where its boldness can be fully appreciated.
Lighting plays a crucial role when using Tricorn Black. Natural light softens its intensity, while artificial lighting can enhance its dramatic effect. Considering the direction and amount of light a room receives is essential, allowing you to balance the space effectively.
In this living room design, Tricorn Black has been used as a blank canvas, allowing other elements to dominate the space. The light-toned furniture with woody brown accents adds the much-needed contrast to the room.
Visual interest in the space has been provided by the glass and metallic accents, which not only serve to reflect light in the room but also elevate the room.
Sherwin Williams Black Magic
Sherwin Williams Black Magic (6991) is another excellent choice for those seeking a bold and dramatic look.
With an LRV of 3, it offers slightly more warmth than Tricorn Black while maintaining an alluring darkness. This paint color is perfect for adding a touch of mystery to any space, creating an intimate ambiance in bedrooms or living rooms.
Black Magic’s rich pigmentation makes it a great option for feature walls, where its depth can anchor your design scheme. Pair it with soft, neutral tones like beige or gray for a balanced, harmonious look.
You can also layer textures with fabrics like velvet or wool to enhance its luxurious feel.
In rooms with ample natural light, Black Magic can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere, making it an excellent choice for cozy reading nooks or intimate dining areas.
In this bedroom design, Black Magic creates a cozy, inviting space. The room combines lighter and purple tones to create a chic bedroom.
With an abundance of natural light, both the purple and lighter tones in the space are visible and contribute to the aesthetics. Notice the use of velvet texture to give the room a classy, luxurious feel.
Sherwin Williams Caviar
Sherwin Williams Caviar (6990) is a sophisticated, warm black hue that adds depth and drama to any space.
Its warm undertones make it particularly well-suited for spaces where you want to create a sense of intimacy and comfort, such as bedrooms or home offices.
Its low LRV of 3 allows this color to absorb most light, providing an intense, enveloping effect ideal for cozy interiors.
When used as an accent wall, Caviar pairs beautifully with soft neutrals like taupe or cream, providing a rich contrast that enhances your room’s color palette. Incorporate metallics or natural wood finishes to add warmth and texture to your space.
Caviar’s versatility also makes it an excellent choice for cabinetry and built-ins, where its rich tone can bring a touch of sophistication to your design.
When working with Caviar, consider the balance between natural and artificial light. Ample natural light can soften the color, revealing its undertones, while carefully positioned lighting fixtures accentuate its richness and create a sense of grandeur.
Here, Caviar creates a neat, modern finish in this living room. The paint not only brings out the architectural elements of the room but it also absorbs most of the light, giving the space a calm feel.
Lighter-toned furniture contrasts the paint and allows other more colorful accents to be used in the room, like the colorful throw pillows. The metallic accents add a classy feel to the room and contribute to the warm ambiance created by the artificial lighting.
2. Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore Black
Benjamin Moore Black (2132-10) is a true, deep black with an LRV of 4.56, making it one of the darkest shades available.
Its pure, inky hue is perfect for creating a timeless, elegant space that exudes sophistication.
Black offers a slightly higher reflectance than other matte blacks, making it an excellent option for smaller spaces that benefit from a touch of drama without feeling too closed in.
Pair Black with crisp whites or soft grays to create a classic, monochromatic look. Add texture with textiles like linen or wool, and incorporate metallic accents for a touch of glamor.
This rich black can create a stunning contrast in rooms with ample natural light that enhances your space’s architectural features.
With its neutral undertones, Black works well with warm and cool colors. This adaptability makes it suitable for spaces like entryways, hallways, or even entire rooms, which can unify different design elements.
Its timeless appeal ensures that it will remain a favorite for years.
Lighting makes all the difference in this small study space that uses Black as the primary color. While the room doesn’t have abundant natural light, the artificial light illuminating the space makes a significant difference.
Notice the use of earthy tones and metallic accents to increase the visual appeal and make the space more grounded.
Benjamin Moore Onyx
Benjamin Moore Onyx (2133-10) is a deep, saturated black offering a subtle hint of warmth, making it incredibly versatile. This paint color is perfect for creating a bold, modern look in any space, from living rooms to home offices.
Onyx’s rich hue pairs beautifully with bold colors like emerald green or sapphire blue, allowing you to create a dynamic, sophisticated design.
Onyx shines in eclectic or minimalist interiors, where its crispness can be a focal point. Pair it with bold, contrasting colors like teal or mustard for a dynamic look.
Its sleek nature also complements high-gloss finishes and metallic accents, adding a touch of urban sophistication. Onyx’s LRV of 4.99 makes it highly light absorbent, making it ideal for spaces where you want to reduce starkness and create a calming effect.
Notice how Onyx has been used in this space to create a classic, timeless appeal. The natural light flowing into the space brings out the color’s bluish undertones. Combining light-toned elements, such as furniture, and darker-toned accents, like the table and plant verse, helps create a well-balanced space.
Benjamin Moore Soot
Benjamin Moore Soot (2129-20) captivates with its smoky and enigmatic presence. This shade’s allure is found in its complex undertones, which add depth and character to any space.
Soot has an LRV of 6.19; hence, it absorbs more light than it reflects.
Pair Soot with soft, neutral tones like beige or taupe for a balanced, harmonious look. Add texture by incorporating textiles like velvet or wool, and introduce metallic accents for a touch of glamor.
In rooms with ample natural light, Soot can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere perfect for relaxing or entertaining.
When designing with Soot, consider the room’s overall color palette and textures. Complementary colors such as soft greens or warm neutrals can enhance its complexity, while textural elements like woven fabrics or leather add dimension and interest.
Soot has created a calm, inviting, airy space in this bedroom design. Plenty of natural light flowing into the room makes the color feel lighter, almost bearing on gray.
Lighter-toned gray accents of the bedding complement the room’s color and make the space feel well-rounded. Soot’s dark hue allows the metal and wood accents to improve the room’s visual appeal.
3. Behr
Behr Carbon
Behr Carbon (N520-7) is a modern charcoal black that offers a contemporary twist on traditional black.
With an LRV of 5, it’s adaptable to various lighting conditions, making it ideal for open-plan living spaces.
Carbon is perfect for spaces that require a softer touch. Its charisma lies in its ability to add depth without overpowering a room.
Consider using Carbon in living spaces, where its warm undertones can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Add texture by incorporating textiles like velvet or wool, and introduce metallic accents for a touch of glamor.
Carbon has been used here to create a calm, inviting bedroom perfect for winding down after a long day. The color’s greenish undertones are brought out by plenty of natural light flowing in the room. Light-toned natural fibers on the bed and the rug help continue the room’s theme and create a well-grounded space.
Behr Limousine Leather
Behr Limousine Leather (MQ5-05) is a deep, luxurious black with an LRV of 4, offering a hint of warmth that makes it incredibly versatile.
This paint color creates a sophisticated, elegant space that exudes style and sophistication. As its name suggests, it evokes fine leather’s smooth, supple quality, and its appearance doesn’t disappoint.
Limousine Leather works beautifully with rich, earthy tones and natural materials like leather and wood. Its warmth creates a welcoming environment, making it an ideal choice for spaces with paramount relaxation and comfort.
Limousine Leather helps extend the modernist theme in this living room. For one, the ability of the paint to absorb light ensures the room is inviting and relaxing even with plenty of natural light.
It also eliminates the need for curtains, maintaining the minimalist theme. The choice of furniture helps create contrast while the houseplant livens up the room.
Behr Blackout
Behr Blackout (N510-7) is the epitome of boldness. This intense matte black is ideal for creating a dramatic, moody ambiance. Its capacity to make a space intimate and expansive is unmatched, making it a popular choice for modern lofts and urban apartments.
Pair it with reflective surfaces such as glass or polished metals to prevent Behr Blackout from feeling overpowering. This juxtaposition can create a balanced look that is both dynamic and cohesive.
Incorporate textures like leather or reclaimed wood to add warmth and prevent the space from feeling too austere. Since it has an LRV of 5, Blackout should be used in well-lit spaces.
With its ability to absorb most natural light, Blackout creates a contrast even with colors that aren’t perceived as bright or reflective, like brown.
Here, the polished metals and reflective mirror surfaces help create a warm, inviting feel to the space while adding to its rustic charm. Natural light flowing to the space is ideally positioned to help highlight the main floor area, while Blackout soaks up the extra light.
4. Farrow and Ball
Farrow and Ball Pitch Black
Farrow and Ball Pitch Black (No. 264) commands attention with its bold and uncompromising presence.
It’s a color that strikes a balance between depth and approachability, making it a versatile choice for any design project.
Pitch Black’s allure lies in its purity; it remains a true black devoid of undertones. This makes it an ideal choice for creating sharp contrasts and clean lines in design.
Use Pitch Black in areas where you want to create a sense of drama and intrigue, such as media rooms or home offices. Its intensity can add a touch of mystery and sophistication.
Pair Pitch Black with vibrant colors or patterned textiles to create a dynamic, eye-catching look that feels daring and refined.
The light wood floor in this hallway adds much-needed warmth, helping balance out the intense depth of Pitch Black on the walls. Similarly-hued console tables virtually disappear into the walls for a clean, sophisticated look, while gold accents add a sense of grandeur.
Farrow and Ball Off-Black
Farrow and Ball Off-Black (No.57) offers a softer, more muted take on classic black. It provides depth without the intensity of darker shades, making it a popular choice for those seeking subtle sophistication.
Off-Black’s charm is found in its understated elegance; it possesses a quiet confidence that enhances any space.
Use it in bedrooms or living areas to create a calming and serene atmosphere or as an exterior color to give homes a timeless and stately appearance.
Off-Black is perfect for creating a sense of calm and tranquility in bedrooms or bathrooms. Its low LRV of 6 lets it absorb light, creating a muted feel in spaces.
This small study room uses Off-Black to create the perfect contrast and a suitable environment for focusing on office work. The dark tone of Off-Black allows other accents to dominate the room and brings the desk into focus. With plenty of natural light, the space still maintains an open-airy feel.
Farrow and Ball Railings
Farrow and Ball Railings (No. 31) captivates with its beautiful blend of blue and black tones.
Railings’ calming effect pairs well with natural materials like wood and linen, creating a harmonious, inviting atmosphere.
With an LRV of about 6, Railings offers a unique twist on classic black, providing depth and intrigue in equal measure.
This shade is perfect for creating dramatic feature walls or for use on furniture and cabinetry. Its chameleon-like qualities make it a favorite among designers seeking to add complexity and interest to their interiors.
Here, Railings has been used to create a contemporary minimalist space. Notice how the paint’s blue undertones are more visible with abundant natural light in the space. The lighter furniture color helps balance out the room, while the navy blue accents in the room complement the paint’s undertones.
What Color Compliments Matte Black Paint Colors?
- Metallic Gold
- Deep Emerald Green
- Warm Beige
- Soft White
Metallic Gold
Metallic gold adds a touch of luxury and sophistication to matte black. The contrast between the sleek, reflective gold and the flat matte black creates a striking and opulent look.
Incorporate metallic gold in accents like light fixtures, hardware, or decorative accessories to introduce a touch of glamour and elevate the depth of matte black.
Deep Emerald Green
Deep emerald green is a rich, jewel-toned color that pairs beautifully with matte black. This combination creates a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere, adding a hint of nature and vibrancy to your space.
Add emerald green through textiles, such as cushions, curtains, or rugs, to bring a refreshing and lush element that complements the matte black.
Warm Beige
Warm beige offers a soft, neutral contrast to matte black. This pairing creates a balanced and inviting environment, softening the intensity of matte black while maintaining a modern and chic look.
Use warm beige in larger elements like furniture, rugs, or walls to create a cozy and harmonious space that enhances the matte black.
Soft White
Soft white provides a clean and crisp contrast to matte black, creating a classic and modern look. This combination adds brightness and a touch of elegance, highlighting the understated sophistication of matte black.
Incorporate soft white in trim, ceilings, or furniture to create a high-contrast and elegant environment that complements the matte black.
Color Disclaimer
Please note that all paint colors displayed on this page are for illustrative purposes only. Due to variations in screen settings, lighting, and other factors, the colors you see on your screen may differ from the actual paint colors. We recommend viewing a physical color sample or swatch for the most accurate representation.
