Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black: The Best Black Paint Color?
By Kylie
April 16, 2023
Black is ABSOLUTELY on trend, and I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. Whether on exteriors, cabinets, doors, or feature walls, this statement color is a great way to add contrast and personality to your home. However, trendy or not, will this beautiful black actually SUIT your home? It depends.
Tricorn Black is often the first choice when you want a dramatic look. However, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have come out with softer, gentler shades that can make Tricorn Black seem a bit harsh…in some situations. In others, it’s the 100% perfect shade. So, let’s find out if it’s the best black for you, or if another color takes its place.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED…
To show you RELATABLE & REAL homes, I ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality photos I need or the RIGHT photos, but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!
IS TRICORN BLACK A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?
Tricorn Black is a pretty legit shade of black, which means it has no obvious warm or cool undertones. It’s a classic, timeless shade that pairs well with SO many colors and styles – it’s said that every room needs a touch of black! It’s also worth noting that Tricorn Black can appear slightly lighter or darker depending on the lighting in your space.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S TRICORN BLACK’S LRV?
With an LRV of 3, Tricorn Black is pretty darn DARK. While the scale technically DOES go to 0, in our useable paint world, 3 is the lowest LRV/blackest color available. This low of an LRV means it absorbs almost ALL light that hits it. So, Tricorn is as black as it comes.
Want to learn more about what an LRV is? It could help you fully understand depth – read all about it HERE.
How to Make a Dark Room Look Brighter – and it ain’t with paint!
The Best Paint NUMBER for Your Home – 62
The Best DARK Paint Colors for a DARK room
DOES TRICORN BLACK HAVE UNDERTONES?
Nope! Tricorn Black’s LACK of undertones is what makes it so flexible. Whether for a feature wall, island, or front door, this black is often a quick win in the color world.
The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones
SAMPLING TRICORN BLACK WITH PEEL & STICK
I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY, depending on the location
- they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
- if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Get your Samplize PEEL & STICK SAMPLE
WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH TRICORN BLACK?
Any white can go with Tricorn black! However, the white you choose depends on the LOOK you want and what suits the finishes in your room. If your home has warmer accents, look at the following:
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
If a room has cooler accents, try out these lovely shades…
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors
3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Color
IS TRICORN BLACK A GOOD COLOR FOR THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?
If you’re considering painting your home black, Tricorn Black is a GREAT place to start. While many people land on the softer black approach of Sherwin William’s Iron Ore, it’s subtle green undertone can be an unwelcome surprise (or a good one!). Tricorn Black is a color for those who want a LEGIT, striking approach to black with no obvious undertones.
And don’t forget; Tricorn Black is also great for exterior trim, shutters, and front doors!
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?
IS TRICORN BLACK A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?
You betcha! However, bold dark colors are more often seen as accents, like kitchen islands.
The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Island & Bathroom Vanities
The 4 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets & Vanities
WHAT OTHER COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO TRICORN BLACK?
When choosing the best shade of black for your home, comparison is KEY. Don’t be afraid to explore other colors to see how undertones, temperatures, and LRVs shift…
- Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10
- Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
- Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
And remember to make your life EASIER by using Peel & Stick samples – and they’re eco-friendly too!
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
While these questions aren’t as popular as the previous ones, there’s still a bunch of you wanting to know…
WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH TRICORN BLACK?
The question should REALLY be, ‘Which paint colors DON’T go with Tricorn Black?‘
The list of paint colors that go with Tricorn Black is long, so it’s silly even to start it!
As for which colors DON’T – I’m yet to find one, as it would depend on the SITUATION and the look you’re going for as to what color partner is best.
IS TRICORN BLACK TOO BLACK?
Wellll, if you’re looking for black, this will do the job. If you’re looking for a SOFTER black, then yes, Tricorn Black could be too dark for you. Instead, check out Sherwin Williams Iron Ore or Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron.
IS TRICORN BLACK A TRUE BLACK?
Tricorn Black is about as black as it gets, as a true black (i.e., Vantablack) isn’t available to the retail paint market.
WHAT’S THE BEST BLACK PAINT COLOR FOR FURNITURE?
I’ve painted a LOT of furniture, and hands down, Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black and Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10 are my go-to blacks.
READ MORE
The 6 Best Dark Taupe & Greige Paint Colors: Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore Paint Color Review
Benjamin Moore’s 10 Best Dark Gray Paint Colors
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
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Meet Kylie
Do you need help, but aren’t quite sure what ‘help’ looks like? Are you drowning in paint samples and decision fatigue?
Does every color you like at the paint store look terrible in your lighting or pick up a funky undertone? I’d love to help.
Hi, I’m Kylie
For over 24 years I’ve helped 12,000+ homeowners and renters make more confident decisions on paint colors and affordable home updates using real home examples and practical, experience-based advice. My goal is simple: help you love the home you have.
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95
Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
118-page PDF – Instant Download
$24.95
Comments
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Black is such a gorgeous color for homes! I love the look of a black kitchen with gold touches! Super chic!
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Your blog is a treasure trove for design enthusiasts and homeowners alike. The way you infuse your personality into each review creates a warm and engaging reading experience. Your passion for interior design is contagious, and it’s evident that you’re not just sharing paint colors; you’re guiding people on a journey to create homes that reflect their unique style.
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NORA, what a wicked comment to read – you’ve made my day and warmed my heart – thank you :).
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My son desperately wants to paint his room a bold choice, and black is at the top of the list. His room faces south, but only has one small-ish window. I suggested doing an accent wall with tricorn black, and he loved the idea, but I don’t know what to do with the other walls. His room is currently SW Amazing gray, and it’s always felt a little dull and lifeless to me, and I don’t know if that’s just the lack of light, or also a result of builder-grade flat paint. Should we choose a much lighter LRV for the other walls? Something like On the Rocks or Agreeable Gray? Or is that too contrasting for Tricorn? I don’t want to shrink an already crowded (read messy!) room, lol.
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Enjoy your reviews so much. I have antiques and want to paint my tall 4 poster bed tricorn black. What type of paint an what sheen do you suggest. I like the primitive look so matte or flat or whatever? Thank you,
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Hey, this sounds awesome! I would DEFINITELY check out Benjamin Moore ScuffX flat. It’s actually WASHABLE paint. The flat will have a bit more sheen than your standard flat, but it’s not so chalky. Some of the flat finishes can get scuffed easy and look chalky, but more ‘off’ than ‘primitive’, you know? OR, maybe you just need Chalk paint, which definitely gives a primitive look! It’s just not very hardy without wax (I love the look though).
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