The fact is: black is not a color; instead, it is the “result of the absence or complete absorption of visible light…a color without a hue.” This shade, however, eclipses its definition when it comes to being one the most popular “colors” in both fashion and design. And if we wish to simply focus on what color delivers, it’s about the feeling. So we could argue that black is, in fact, a promoter of feeling and therefore a color.
What Colour is Black? Chromatography for Kids
When we see colours on a printed page, we are looking at reflected light. White light is made up of all the colours of the rainbow — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet — combined in just the right amount.
When white light falls on a page with red ink, two things happen:
- The white paper reflects all of the light to our eyes so the page appears white, and
- The red ink absorbs all of the colours (in reality, it absorbs the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation corresponding to the colours) except for red. The red part of the light (red wavelength) is reflected to our eyes — so we see red ink.
If the ink appeared green, then it would be a green light that was being reflected and viewed by us.
By using different amounts of different inks, we can make all the different colours — your colour printer uses cyan, magenta and yellow to make all the colours of the rainbow appear on your paper.
But how do we make something appear black?
Black is the absence of all the other colours — no light is reflected back to our eyes, so the ink absorbs all of the light. So how do we make black?
This is where chromatography comes in. Chromatography is just the name given to a process that separates a mixture into its components. We can use chromatography to find out what is in black ink.
What do You Need?
Finding out what colours make the ink appear black is easy and uses common household items. You will need:
- Absorbent paper — round, paper coffee filters are ideal.
- An empty jam jar or some other support.
- Black felt-tip pens — NOT PERMANENT INK.
- A means to drip water onto the paper — or alternatively use the wick method.
What do I Need to Do?
- The first step is to make a coloured circle with the black felt tip in the centre of the filter paper.
- Then place the filter paper on top of the open end of the jam jar.
- Add a few drops of water to the ink spot — and allow to the water to spread out.
- Don’t add too much water or the separation effect will be lost. Add more water if necessary.
Alternative Wick Method
With this method, cut a 1cm wide strip from the edge of the paper to the ink spot in the centre. Bend the strip down to act as a wick that allows the water to rise up to the ink.
Designer Discussion:
When pondering this dark and inspiring subject I turned to my friends — the “radical badass” Thomas Moll, owner of Raven Vanguard Design Studio and Buffalo designer Timothy Aaron — to discuss this moody, mysterious and inviting color.
Photo courtesy of Raven Vanguard Design Studio
A Designer’s View of Black
Here is an excerpt of our conversation:
How do you view black?
Me: Intense, embracing, provocative, it will either eclipse or elevate other colours.
Thomas: A many centuries old debate continues to rage on about black – is black a color, or, is it the utter absence of light? To [us], the physics and frequency vibration of black are inconsequential. Black is the transformational essence of revelation. Black is the artifice of the conjurer; the means by which sensuality, eroticism, intimacy, and ecstasy are laid bare through the interplay of shadowplay and the sacred sight of the mind’s eye.
What parallels do you see between black in fashion and design?
Me: In fashion – black has always been considered of as classic, sophisticated and timelessly stylish , that was supported qualitatively by the fabric and cut. It was in my view, often revered in design as being too dominating as a singular used colour … Until those colour pioneers started to see the benefits and drama within its constraints. You always know the outcome will be embracing and strong.
Timothy: Why do we love the little black dress or our go-to black shoes? Could it be because they are classic or there’s comfort in the ease of wearing them and they give us confidence? Black as a decorative choice for a space can do all the things that a black wardrobe does when we wear it. It can be bold while providing a sense of ease. It can be trend-forward and modern while being classic and traditional. It can be a backdrop to highlight art and decor while other elements recess into the background. Black has long been a favorite in our wardrobes perhaps the same should be true for the spaces that surround us.
Since C2 doesn’t use any traditional black in their colors; they have some beautiful near blacks. What about their palette is appealing to you?
Me: With our bespoke colour matching services – there is always the opportunity to mix a true jet black if needed, though i love the near blacks that provide a softness … Its like a recipe with an extra added ingredient you cannot quite determine, that adds something unique to a well known dish.
Timothy: The color palette is beautiful. Colors are deeply saturated and pure. Though the color options may seem limited compared to big box brands the C2 palette is full of colors that are forward, yet classic. The C2 palette is well focused perfectly suited for today’s designs. I find great inspiration in this dynamic palette.
Popular C2 Paint near-blacks: Aperture, Stout, Black Bean, Andromenda
Paint it Black
I see a red door and I want it painted black. No colors anymore I want them to turn black – Rolling Stones
As trends lean strongly towards minimalism, this colour, is a surefire way to add instant haute chic, and some mystery, in a clean space and certainly applies to the minimalist “less is more” philosophy. As much as I love, adore and appreciate colour – and it’s walk before me every minute of my day – there is something so refreshing and appealing in the choice to remove it all and surround myself with black, and the many discovering shades thereof.
A mixture of matte and gloss finishes accented with dynamic lighting creates a beautiful minimalist design story. Photo by Michael Hunter via HGTV.
I underestimated the value of black as an exclusive choice, for many years in the earlier part of my career – black always played the supporting role in a colour production. Though it was a valued and highly regarded team player, it was never full center stage. Perhaps fearing that this solid, single, strikingly dramatic and embracing solo player, might possibly overplay its hand. How wrong can one be!
From bathrooms to bedrooms to kitchens and accessories, black is back—and here to stay, though for some, it never left.
Test Black Paint Colors
Black paint can really enhance and transform a space, however it can also be quite intimidating. Testing black hues is very important.
Before you commit to painting your entire exterior black, I strongly suggest you test each and every color you are considering. Do not just read this article (or any other) and select a color from the list and go about painting. You will likely be disappointed. I read all about black paint colors, researched how they would look, but it wasn’t until I tested them until I knew exactly what color to chose.
I tested seven colors on the black color wheel and each of them were very different and not quite what I expected. They looked drastically different than what I thought they would.
Decide whether you want a warm black or a cool black paint color or perhaps you just want the most neutral, true deep black that you can find. Here are 12 black paints to get you going.
12 Black Paints to Chose From
1. Benjamin Moore Soot (LVR 4.11)
This one is often recommended because it is a perfect grey black. It’s more of a warm charcoal instead of a straight black. Soot is a rich black color with cool blue undertones. It makes a statement all on its own, yet pairs perfectly with white as a pop. This is a cooler black.
Personally Tested
We tested Soot on our barn, but for us it had too much blue undertone and was not a winner for our painting project.
2. Valspar Ebony Field (LVR 6.194)
Ebony Field is a deep, dark black with a charcoal influence and looks great on exteriors. One of our Instagram followers suggested we try this color and we did give it a chance.
Personally Tested
While I love this color, it felt too brown and charcoaly for our barn, but this one did make our top three choices.
3. Benjamin Moore Nightfall (LVR 6.36)
Nightfall is more of a blackened gray taking its color from the night sky. This one looks great with warmer wood.
Personally Tested
We tested Nightfall on our barn, but it was too light in color for us to achieve the desired overall look.
4. Benjamin Moore Black Beauty (LVR 3.26)
After testing eight colors I did not get around to testing Black Beauty. It is very similar to Onyx but not as dark since it has a higher LVR. This is a lovely shade of black and a great go to black color.
5. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (LVR 3)
This black paint color rivals BM Black Beauty and Onyx. Tricorn Black is a neutral color that is void of any undertones! It is for all intents and purposes and quite lovely. This color is pure, refined, and unblended.
6. Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (LVR 10)
This black color is loaded with depth and character. Peppercorn is a lighter black since it is a 10 on the LVR scale; this is the second lightest black on the list. This is a gorgeous color both inside and out if you are looking for a lighter shade of black.
7. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (LVR 6)
Iron Ore is similar to BM Wrought Iron so we didn’t test it. It is a tried and true color and used a lot for interiors and exteriors alike. It is a dark, inky, charcoal gray paint color that I truly love.
8. Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal (LVR 12.96)
Kendall Charcoal HC166 is a versatile neutral, it also works well with most color schemes. It can feel green or gray in different lights and to me it’s a bit of a chameleon and changes colors with different lighting situations. This color is rich and deep without being too dark as it is the lightest color in our line up in this post. Kendall Charcoal is a great shade and was in our dining room when we moved into our home.
Personally Tested
A gorgeous color and very popular. I love Kendall Charcoal in the right setting. It was way too light for our vision for the barn and the hints of green with the lighting really through me off and it was a no-go.
9. Benjamin Moore Graphite (LVR 5.66)
Graphite is part of the Classic Color Collection and is a near neutral color from the Blue Hue Family. It has very little color to it at all, but you may sense blueness but it’s not because of its blue undertones – its certain lighting.
Personally Tested
I thought this was going to be our color and I loved it, but once again it felt very blue in the light. I loved it, but after putting up the sample I knew I needed to keep looking. This is a gorgeous color and one I was hoping would work. It was in our final top three.
10. Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (LVR 6.16)
Meet Wrought Iron. This dark shade of blue-black is a worry-free workhorse for about any space. You may see this one categorized as a dark grey too. It really is a muted version of black and really not harsh whatsoever.
Personally Tested
We tested Wrought Iron on our barn, but for us it was too light. Felt more like a dark/light charcoal for our project so we passed as we wanted something just a bit darker.
11. Benjamin Moore Mopboard Black (LVR 4.27)
Mopboard Black CW 680 is one of the most stunning black colors that Benjamin Moore has to offer. It is refined, sophisticated, and the model for elegance. We used Mopboard Black on the interior front and back door of our Virginia house and liked the touch of black that wasn’t too stark.
12. Benjamin Moore Onyx (LVR 2.9)
Onyx BM 2133-10 by Benjamin Moore is a fan favorite for good reason. It is a dark black with little or no undertones which is a huge plus! Onyx has smooth hues with undertones that are warmer compared to other black paint colors.
Personally Tested
WE HAVE A WINNER! We tested Onyx, but was not on my initial list. After the first four samples I returned for Onyx and was glad I did. This was what we chose.
Final Thoughts on Black Paint
If you are looking to add some drama and elegance to your space, either inside or out, then reach for a black paint color and take a walk on the wild side. Any of these 12 shades would be perfect inside or out, but don’t take my word for it; grab some sample cans and test them first.
They will each look differently inside as opposed to outside and even differently on various interior walls. Keep in mind lighting plays a huge role when choosing any paint color but think it can be more tricky especially when working with black.
So…would you ever paint your house, room or an accent wall black? Would love to know your thoughts on this bold and dramatic hue!
We can’t wait to get started on our barn and shop painting projects and see our space come to life.
Happy Painting and Decorating friends! Stay tuned for our black painted barn; it’s being worked on right now!
