Have you ever considered going dark when choosing a new paint color for your room? Many people shy away from black and charcoal gray paint colors, feeling like they’ll be too dark and gloomy. But charcoal gray walls can actually make a room feel cozy and add style and sophistication.
But which of the many charcoal gray paint colors should you choose? I’ve narrowed down the hundreds of options to six tried-and-true favorites, including the charcoal gray color we used (and loved!) in our home office. But first… a few details on charcoal grays. (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
Why Choose a Charcoal Gray Paint Color?
Charcoal gray paint colors can add an air of sophistication and glamour to a room. When done right, they feel luxuriously moody without being gloomy. Their deep, rich hues instantly add depth and dimension, while their neutral undertones make them a perfect backdrop for other colors and textures.
I also think charcoal gray paint colors look amazing mixed with warm woods, brown leathers, and brass accents. For example, I loved the look of the brass curtain rod end caps and brackets against the charcoal gray walls in our previous home:
I also love using charcoal grays in spaces with white furniture, molding, or cabinetry because the contrast between the two colors is stunning.
Want tips on picking the perfect charcoal gray for your space? See my post on how to choose paint colors for my 8 tips for getting it right.
Now that you know why charcoal gray paint colors can be a beautiful choice, let’s move on to sharing my favorite ones in order from darkest to lightest based on each paint color’s LRV (Light Reflectance Value). The LRV indicates how much light the paint color reflects, with lower LRV paints appearing darker than higher LRV paints.
Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace (7076) LRV: 6
Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace has been described as a cool-hued charcoal black, a deep charcoal gray, and also a charcoal navy because there’s a lot of blue in it. While in some spaces like this one it looks like a soft charcoal color,
in others like this one it looks more like a deep navy:
The blue tones are particularly prominent in rooms with a northern exposure. This paint color is a great choice if you want a deep charcoal hue with just a touch of color in it.
Benjamin Moore Graphite (1603) LRV: 7.59
Graphite is described by Benjamin Moore as an elegant deep gray hue that adds depth and drama to any space:
Along with being a beautiful interior color, it’s also a popular charcoal gray for the exterior of homes. It’s a versatile color that works well with a variety of styles from traditional to modern, and looks beautiful when used alongside natural woods.
Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-1) LRV: 8
Behr recently announced Cracked Pepper as their 2024 color of the year after finding that people are increasingly embracing dark hues to create spaces with an elevated yet comfortable feel. Along with being a great wall color, Cracked Pepper is a beautiful choice for cabinetry too:
Benjamin Moore Nightfall (1596) LRV: 8.3
Benjamin Moore Nightfall is the charcoal gray paint color that I chose for our home office in our previous home. It was the perfect room for experimenting with a dark paint color because there actually wasn’t a ton of wall space. One side was entirely open to the hall, another had a wall-to-wall built-in bookcase, and the third was mostly taken up by windows.
Nightfall is described as a “blackened gray” which I think is a great description of it because it is about as close to the line between gray and black as you can get. I LOVE it! The contrast of the dark charcoal gray with our white bookcases was stunning:
Home Office Sources: Desk (similar) | Wingback chair (similar) | Rug | Semi flush mount ceiling light | Acrylic curtain rods | Drapes – no longer available
I painted the hallway wall Benjamin Moore Nightfall too, and left the molding white to create contrast:
Get more details about this gorgeous paint color in my full post on Benjamin Moore Nightfall.
Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn (7674) LRV: 10
Peppercorn is one of Sherwin-Williams’ 50 most popular interior paint colors. Sherwin-Williams describes it as being a versatile charcoal gray paint color that’s evenly balanced between warm and cool:
The balanced undertones mean that it’s incredibly versatile, working well with a wide variety of other colors. And unlike some of the darker charcoal gray colors earlier in this post, Peppercorn is light enough that it doesn’t ever appear black, even in low-light spaces.
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) LRV 14.61
Benjamin Moore describes Kendall Charcoal as being a dark neutral with rich, varied undertones. In comparison to the other charcoal grays on our list, Kendall Charcoal has more warmth to it with subtle undertones of green and brown:
How Do I Chose the Best Charcoal Gray Paint Color For My Space?
Never choose your paint color simply by looking at paint color strips at the paint store. You need larger samples, and you need to see what they look like in your own home. The appearance of a paint color is affected by lighting, which direction the room faces, other colors in the room, and tons of other factors.
I highly recommend that you buy peel-and-stick samples of the charcoal gray paint colors you’re considering on Samplize. It’s so much easier than buying samples of the actual paint to paint on your walls. And it helps so much to be able to move the peel-and-stick samples to different areas in your room to see how the look of the color changes.
Will I Regret Painting a Room Charcoal Gray?
Painting a room charcoal gray is definitely a bold move but I honestly don’t think it’s something trendy that everyone will hate in a few years. Also, paint is just paint and is relatively inexpensive and easy to change if your taste changes.
What if you plan to sell your home in the next few years? You may think that choosing a charcoal gray paint color is risky for resale. Interestingly, Zillow did a study in June 2023 that found charcoal gray rooms actually INCREASE the sale price of your home. Charcoal gray walls were associated with higher offers than white walls in all of the rooms that they studied, including kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Now that you know my favorite charcoal gray paint colors, do you want the scoop on my other favorites? If so, check out these posts:
Thanks as always for stopping by & enjoy the rest of your weekend,
