Benjamin Moore Charcoal Slate: Paint Color Review -

A moody hue with gray roots

Whether you’re choosing a dark paint color for your exterior, walls, or cabinets, it’s alllllll in the undertones – blue, green, or purple. As to which is best, well, it depends on your home and its finishes.

That’s right. You might think your personal tastes call the shots, but oh no, your best color choices should be guided by your home and what suits it. This is why we’re looking at Benjamin Moore Charcoal Slate to see if this charmingly moody hue could be the color that your home is looking for.

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WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS CHARCOAL SLATE?

Charcoal Slate is a dark, cool gray paint color. Like lighter grays, dark grays have undertones, including blue, green, or violet (or a blend). We’ll look at Charcoal Slate’s undertones shortly. First, let’s talk about exposures (no indecent ones…this time).

Being a cool gray paint color, Charcoal Slate can be a great way to balance out the heat of warm afternoon western sunshine or intense southern exposure. As for northern exposure, it’s an ‘each to their own’ thing. Cool colors don’t always settle as well in north-facing light, as northern light is gray and cold, so you’re giving your room a little bit of a double-whammy.

However, cool colors often seem cozy and more intimate when they’re DARKER vs lighter.

Benjamin Moore Charcoal Slate with Sherwin Williams City Loft paint color on the walls.

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?

WHAT’S CHARCOAL SLATE’S LRV?

Charcoal Slate has an LRV of 14.51, meaning it’s a medium-dark paint color. Because of its lower chroma (degree of color/undertone), it can look a bit drab if you have a dark room. Dark rooms often need dark colors with less gray and more color. This said, its lower LRV is great for bright rooms or intense exterior light as it won’t wash out as much as lighter shades.

Sherwin Williams On the Rocks walls | The Best Paint Colors to Go With Marble

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES CHARCOAL SLATE HAVE?

Ahhh, the answer we’ve all been waiting for! Charcoal Slate is gray with considerably strong blue-purple undertones, giving it a subtle, inky vibe. Is it more gray or more blue-purple? Well, that’s open to perception—I think it’s an interesting mix of all three (although I find the blue-gray stronger than the purple).

The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

Here’s your Charcoal Slate Peel & Stick sample…

WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH CHARCOAL SLATE?

The question should be ‘What white trim colors DON’T go with Charcoal Slate?‘ Seriously, Charcoal Slate is pretty darn flexible and humors a wide range of whites for trims or cabinets, including…

Benjamin Moore White Dove
Benjamin Moore Simply White
If you want a slightly more clean, brighter white look, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is gorgeous.
If you prefer cool whites, Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is an interesting choice.

The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors

The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

DOES CHARCOAL SLATE GO WITH CREAM CABINETS OR TRIM?

I wouldn’t do it. In choosing a color like Charcoal Slate, you risk your cream finish looking more yellow than it already does.

The Best Paint Colors for Cream Trim & Cabinets

DOES CHARCOAL SLATE GO WITH WOOD TRIMS & CABINETS?

A thousand times over, yes. While not everyone is into dark walls with wood trim, if you love a moody vibe, Charcoal Slate hits it out of the park. I might be careful with wood stains with a good degree of yellow or pink, but even then, Charcoal Slate is known to slide in quite well.

Look at how friggin’ STUNNING Charcoal Slate looks with a dark wood with a red-purple stain…

The Best Paint Colors to ACCENT Red Wood Stains

IS CHARCOAL SLATE A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Charcoal Slate is an awesome contender for your siding or stucco (or front door!). You’d be surprised how many stone and brick exteriors are happy to see a dark gray-blue like Charcoal Slate show up, as it often leans into them or directly contrasts and complements their color needs.

This next front door shows Charcoal Slate, but truth be told, it reads WAY more like Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart…

The Best Front Door Paint Colors

IS CHARCOAL SLATE A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?

Heck yes. While not many people would paint their entire kitchen a color like Charcoal Slate, it’s amazeballs for a kitchen island or bathroom vanity (smaller scale).

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Island & Bathroom Vanities

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO CHARCOAL SLATE?

Oh, a whole whack of shades compete with Charcoal Slate. Sample and compare these to see which best suits your finishes and tastes.

Sherwin Williams Web Gray (you might notice a bare wink o’ green pop-up compared to Charcoal Slate).
Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10 is one of my favorites. It offers a bit more density than Charcoal Slate.
Sample and compare Benjamin Moore Anchor Gray to see a bit more blue hue peeking through.