Paint colors for your home, inside and out
Black · Living room · colors from 3 paintings
A black accent wall in a living room works when the black is chosen with care. These three come from portraits and sit with warm companions measured from the same paintings.
Quick answer
Use the soft white #FCF3E1 on the other walls and paint one wall #0F0F0E or #1D222D. Add warm wood and brass tones against it.
A very dark black with a cool blue undertone at LRV 2, from Anders Zorn's portrait of Edward R. Bacon. The closest match measured is Sherwin-Williams SW 9179 Anchors Aweigh.
From Edward R. Bacon (1846–1915), Anders Zorn
A black with a warm yellow undertone at LRV 1 from van der Helst's The Musician. It is softer than a neutral black and suits a room with wood and leather. No close commercial paint match was found.
From The Musician, Bartholomeus van der Helst
A neutral black with no clear undertone at LRV 1, from Carolus-Duran's portrait of Henri Fantin-Latour. It is the starkest choice for a wall behind a TV or a fireplace. No close commercial match was found.
From Henri Fantin-Latour (1836–1904), Carolus-Duran (Charles-Auguste-Emile Durant)
A very light warm white at LRV 90, from the same portrait. Use it on the other walls and the ceiling so the black wall stands out.
From Henri Fantin-Latour (1836–1904), Carolus-Duran (Charles-Auguste-Emile Durant)
A deep warm brown at LRV 10 from The Musician. It suits a sofa, a leather chair or a wood mantel.
From The Musician, Bartholomeus van der Helst
A mid-tone gold at LRV 30 from the same painting. Use it in a frame, a lamp or a mirror against the black wall.
From The Musician, Bartholomeus van der Helst
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
| Color | Neutral daylight | North light | South light | Evening lamps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm paper white | ||||
| Antique gold |
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Edward R. Bacon (1846–1915).
The three blacks here differ in undertone, not in depth. All have an LRV of 1 or 2, so they absorb nearly all light. The blue-black #1D222D feels cooler. The brown black #271D12 is warmer. The neutral #0F0F0E is the most graphic.
For a living room with warm wood floors, the brown black blends in. For a gray sofa or a modern room, the blue-black or neutral black reads sharper.
Paint a large sample and look at it next to a true black object, such as a TV screen. The wall will often look lighter than you expect, and the undertone will show.
Remember that a black wall is a big investment of effort. It often needs two coats of primer and two of paint to look even, so buy a good quality paint made for deep colors, and plan to cut in carefully along the ceiling.
Warm companions from the same paintings keep the wall from feeling stark. The paper white #FCF3E1 at LRV 90 on the other three walls bounces light back into the room.
The caramel #735029 and the gold #B78F54 pick up the warm side of The Musician. Use the caramel in a sofa, rug or mantel, and the gold in small objects.
For trim, a white a step lighter than the walls is a clean choice. The ceiling should stay light as well, since two dark planes together can close a room in.
For the fireplace or TV wall, keep objects simple. A single large piece of art in a gold frame, such as the antique gold #B78F54, looks richer against black than many small items. Wood shelves in the caramel #735029 give the wall some weight.
Choose the wall that people look at first. In many living rooms it is the wall with a fireplace, the wall behind a sofa or the wall behind a TV. A dark wall behind a TV can reduce the contrast with a bright screen, which many people find easier to watch.
A fireplace wall in black makes the mantel and the art above it stand out. Choose a wall without a window if you can, because a window next to a black wall creates glare.
Avoid painting a wall that is partly in direct sun if you want a deep, even finish, since light and dust show more on dark paint.
If the room is open plan, think about what is visible from the next room. A black wall seen through a doorway can anchor the whole space. If you want to keep the choice flexible, a single wall is much easier to repaint than a whole room.
A very dark color reflects almost nothing, so it will look the same shade in most light but change in undertone. North light brings out the blue in #1D222D. Warm evening lamps bring out the brown in #271D12.
Good lamps matter more in this room than in a light one. Add table lamps and wall lights on the other walls, so the black wall reads as a backdrop rather than a hole.
Test the paint by painting a large board and moving it around the room. Look in the morning, in daylight and at night, and compare the finish: matte hides flaws, while a satin shows every mark.
A satin sheen may look richer at an angle, but it also shows roller marks. Many painters choose matte for large black walls for exactly that reason, and then wipe the surface gently with a soft damp cloth.
It can work if the other walls are light and you have good lamps. With a white at LRV 90 on the other walls, the room stays bright.
Choose warm, like #271D12, for wood and brass. Choose cool, like #1D222D, for gray or modern furniture.
The warm white #FCF3E1 is the suggested wall color. It is very light and has a warm yellow undertone.
Yes. It is a common spot. Keep the mantel and surround in a material that can handle the heat, and use paint made for it.
A matte or eggshell finish hides marks better. Satin and gloss show dust and fingerprints more.
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Calming Colors for Living Room Walls: Soft Yellow, Blue and Green
Paint Colors for a Small Living Room with Brown Furniture
Beach Paint Colors for Living Room
North West Facing Living Room Colors for Cool Mornings and Warm Evenings
Color Schemes for a Basement Family Room
Emerald Green Bedroom Paint: Shades Measured from Paintings
Painting images: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain (CC0). Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
