Sherwin Williams Black Magic SW 6991: Paint Color Review

Black paint colors are one of the most popular neutrals out there. Did you know that there was a time people were once hesitant to use them in spaces? However, they have become one of the best choices for accent walls and woodwork.

This time, I’ll be giving a review of Sherwin Williams Black Magic SW 6991. You can’t miss this paint color if you are familiar with the brand’s black paint colors. Also, Black Magic is so bold and sophisticated that it can’t go unnoticed in a space.

Black Magic is one of the deepest black paint colors from Sherwin Williams. While it does a good job of hiding its undertones, there’s definitely something there. Do you care to find out?

What is this black paint color? How does it look on walls or cabinets? What type of black is it? Join me as I explore these aspects of the color and many more.

When to Choose Sherwin Williams Black Magic (SW 6991)

Most times, it isn’t enough to simply know what a color looks like. Understanding the right time and space to use it plays a crucial role in getting the best results. That said, when do you choose Sherwin William Black Magic?

Considering the following points will help you make a decision.

Want a black color with depth and a bit of color?

Sherwin Williams Black Magic gives one of the deepest looks out there. Fortunately, its intense brown undertones add some color to it.

Does your space have abundant lighting?

Black Magic works best in spaces with abundant lighting because it absorbs more light than it reflects. Using it in dark spaces can give a gloomy vibe.

Bright areas allow it to express its luxurious look and enticing undertones.

Aiming for a sophisticated and bold palette?

The paint color is known for its boldness, and it brings this to any palette or space.

Looking for a black that works on furniture?

Not only does this black paint color work on walls, but it also looks wonderful on furniture and doors.

Want some magic?

Finally, Sherwin Williams Black Magic can give your space the right magic it needs to feel perfect.

What Color is Sherwin Williams Black Magic?

Sherwin Williams Black Magic is a warm, black paint color deep enough to rival some of the blackest out there. People often compare it to Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black, which is the closest thing to true black from the brand.

This paint color got its name from its subtly alluring tones. It easily makes one think about how beautiful and bold black can be when used right.

However, Black Magic brings more to a space beyond its boldness. It adds a bit more color than the average black of similar depth. This extra color gives it warmth and an enticing vibe. You will notice this regardless of where the color is used.

Snapshot of Black Magic Specifications

Here’s a table showing the specifications of Sherwin Williams Black Magic.

Specifications	Black Magic
RGB	50 / 49 / 50
HEX Value	#323132
LRV	3
Undertones	Brown

 

The LRV of Black Magic

A paint color’s LRV refers to its Light Reflectance Value. It tells you how much light the color reflects or absorbs, depending on how you interpret it. If a paint color reflects light strongly, that means it absorbs little, and vice versa.

LRV runs on a scale of 0 – 100, with true black having 0 and true white having 100. This means that the lower the value, the darker the color. However, it’s important to note that no paint color looks exactly true black or white. Their LRVs range between 3 – 97.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic SW 6991 has an LRV of 3. This value is one of the lowest you will find. It puts the paint color really close to true black on the LRV scale. While this gives it strong color depth, it makes the color unsuitable for dark spaces.

As such, Black Magic works best in well-lit spaces and when paired with significantly brighter colors. The reason is that it absorbs light strongly and reflects almost nothing.

Undertones of Black Magic

When you get to the deepest black colors with similar LRVs, undertones are one of the best ways to differentiate them. Only a few black colors have no undertones. Others have some bit of color to them. These ones can then fall into warm or cool black colors.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic has brown undertones that put it on the warm side of the spectrum. Sometimes they can look a little red, but that’s more of a trick of the light. These brown undertones also give the paint color its enticing vibe.

However, Black Magic only shows its undertones in well-lit spaces. Areas with less lighting won’t bring them out.

Will Black Magic hide its undertones on Walls?

Sherwin Williams Black Magic only hides its undertones in dark spaces. Such spaces give it a gloomy look and are generally not recommended for the paint color.

You should use Black Magic in well-lit spaces instead.

What is the difference between Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black and Black Magic?

The major difference between Tricorn Black and Black Magic is their undertones. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black has no undertones. SW Black Magic has brown undertones.

Is Black Magic a Warm or Cool Color?

Sherwin Williams Black Magic is a warm black paint color. It falls on the warm side because of its brown undertones. While you might not read this right away, it’s bound to reveal its temperature at once point.

However, this doesn’t put it on the same level as other black colors with intense undertones. SW Black Magic has enough depth to hide its undertones most times. This also extends to its temperature.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Color Strip: Lighter or Darker Exploration

Black Magic’s color strip is made up of black paint colors. Usually, a color strip consists of up to seven colors of varying shades. But this time, the strip has some members with different undertones and temperatures.

These are the colors from Black Magic’s color strip:

1. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258
2. Sherwin Williams Caviar SW 6990
3. Sherwin Williams Black Magic SW 6991
4. Sherwin Williams Inkwell SW 6992
5. Sherwin Williams Black of Night SW 6993
6. Sherwin Williams Greenblack SW 6994
7. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore SW 7069

You can see that this color strip is quite packed with popular colors from the brand. From Tricorn Black to Iron Ore, you have a wealth of options for a black neutral.

Black Magic Complementary Colors

Understanding a paint color’s complement is one of the steps to knowing the color fully. Complements can make your color look brighter and even better when paired together. You can find your color’s complement by looking at the hue opposite it on the color wheel.

The following shows common hues and their complements:

• Blue – Orange-Yellow
• Yellow – Purple
• Red – Green
• Orange – Blue

Black Magic’s complementary color is Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258

Tricorn Black is the closest paint color to true black from Sherwin Williams. It has an LRV of 3 and zero undertones. Yes, you read that right. Tricorn Black has no undertones and reads neither warm nor cool.

This makes it the perfect black paint color, as it has almost limitless versatility. It looks amazing on accent walls, cabinets, doors, and furniture. Pairing Tricorn Black with white will give one of the best contrasts you’ll likely see.

If you are looking for sophistication and class in a dark neutral, check Tricorn Black.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Coordinating Colors

Coordinating colors harmonize with your main color and each for a better look than they would give individually. These colors are important if you want to get the best results for your space. As we will soon see, you can always pair them up for a nice palette.

Notable coordinating colors for Black Magic include the following:

1. Sherwin Williams Snowbound SW 7004: Snowbound is a bright white with a soft, ‘snowy’ touch. It has an LRV of 83, which makes it contrast nicely with Black Magic. The paint color has gray undertones and a tiny bit of pink, giving it some warmth.
2. Sherwin Williams Lemon Meringue SW 7561: Lemon Meringue is a warm, bright shade of yellow. It has a cozy feel and lovely summer vibes. The paint color works wonders in interior spaces. However, it’s not recommended for exterior spaces.
3. Sherwin Williams Anjou Pear SW 6381: Anjou Pear is a medium shade of orange with gold tones. It has an LRV of 46 and brings lots of warmth and color to any space.

Note that Black Magic pairs nicely with a wide variety of colors. Feel free to put it with both cool and warm ones.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Color Palette

As you would’ve guessed by now, Black Magic fits into several palettes. I’ve prepared three palettes with different colors and vibes.

Contrasting Palette

1. Smoky Blue SW 7604: This mildly hazy blue adds a soft, cool vibe to any space. While you can use it on cabinets, it works just as well on walls, especially for this palette. Smoky Blue looks amazing in areas like bedrooms and kitchens.
2. Alabaster SW 7008: This warm cozy white has a lovely contrast with Black Magic. Alabaster has an LRV of 82 and soft tones that give it a welcoming feel in any space. What’s more? It looks amazing in interior and exterior spaces.
3. Bravado Red SW 6320: This deep red infuses any space with energy and color. Most people like it for its balance of vibrancy and depth than for its warmth.

Coordinating Palette

1. Lemon Meringue SW 7561: Add exciting summer tones to your space with Lemon Meringue. The yellow paint color has an LRV of 83 and contrasts nicely with Black Magic. As I mentioned earlier, Lemon Meringue works best in interior spaces.
2. Snowbound SW 7004: This bright white looks amazing with Black Magic in any space. Snowbound has a beautiful white that works well on walls and cabinets alike. However, you should use Black Magic on furniture and the white on walls for the best results.
3. Anjou Pear SW 6381: This orange paint color takes a golden shade on walls. It gives a cheerful feel to spaces. In addition to its warmth, Anjou Pear fits nicely into a vacation or summer-style decor.

Monochromatic Palette

1. Pure White SW 7005: This bright white has some yellow undertones. However, it has a tiny bit of black that prevents it from looking creamy. Pure White pairs well with a lot of colors, Black Magic included.
2. Tricorn Black: This deep black has no undertones and reads neither warm nor cool. Tricorn Black complements Black Magic and pairs nicely with the white colors in this palette.
3. High Reflective White: This ultra bright white is the exact equivalent of Tricorn Black on the white side. High Reflective White has an LRV of 93 and is the closest paint color to true white from the brand. It has no undertones too and contrasts nicely with Black Magic.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic vs. Other Paint Colors

Tricorn Black vs. Black Magic

People often compare these paint colors because of their depth and similar LRV. Note that despite all of these, the colors aren’t the same. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black has more depth because of its lack of undertones. Black Magic has brown undertones.

Also, Tricorn Black has a neutral temperature. It reads neither warm nor cool, while Black Magic reads warm. Of these two, Tricorn Black has more versatility and popularity.

Black of Night vs. Black Magic

Sherwin Williams Black Magic has brown undertones, while Black of Night has green ones. This means that the former reads warm, while the latter has a cool temperature. In addition to that, Black Magic has an LRV of 3, while Black of Night has one of 4.

SW Black of Night also has a bit less depth than Black Magic.

Caviar vs. Black Magic

Both black paint colors have the same LRV of depth. However, while Black Magic has strong brown undertones that can look red, Caviar has brown undertones that rarely lean into red. This means that Black Magic will show a bit more color in bright light.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Benjamin Moore Equivalent

Although Benjamin Moore has several deep black paint colors, the brand doesn’t have any called Black Magic. However, I found some that come close in appearance and depth. The following are the most notable.

Benjamin Moore Black HC-190

BM Black HC-190 is a classic black paint color with anchoring vibes. It has an LRV of 4.56, which gives it a bit less depth than Sherwin Williams Black Magic. This paint color is one of the closest to true black from Benjamin Moore.

Benjamin Moore Onyx 2133-10

This deep black has an LRV of 4.99 and a luxurious look in any space. While it appears totally black, its higher LRV gives it a bit less depth compared to Sherwin Williams Black Magic (LRV = 3).

Note that Benjamin Moore Onyx has no discernable undertones like Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.

Where Can You Use Sherwin Williams Black of Night?

As a black paint color, Sherwin Williams Black of Night works well in almost any space in a home. Its versatility and depth make it suitable to pair with a wide range of colors too.

Let’s look at the paint color in several areas of a home.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Exterior

As the pictures below show, Black Magic looks bold and sophisticated on exterior walls. Its depth and richness give an aura of style and confidence that anyone would respect.

Pairing the deep black with white trims for the best effect and look.

Note that Sherwin Williams Black Magic also looks amazing on window shutters. Especially when you pair the color with a significantly brighter neutral.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Living Room

One of the best ways to utilise Sherwin Williams Black Magic in interior spaces is to use it on accent walls. The picture below features Black Magic on an accent wall and a warm white on the rest of the walls.

Note that the deep black can work with cool white colors too.

Yeah, Black Magic rocks on accent walls. But do you want something even more sophisticated? Check out this picture that has the paint color throughout the living room.

To pull off this look properly, you should use brighter colors, including white, on other surfaces in the space.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Doors

Another way to make a lovely contrast with Black Magic is to use it on doors and paint the surrounding walls white.

This gives one of the most natural looks for a door as you can see in the pictures below.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Bedroom

Do you want a bold and dim palette in your bedroom? Black Magic can help you get that. Whether you choose to use it on an accent wall or all the walls in the bedroom, the paint color will deliver.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic Furniture

Black paint colors look amazing on any piece of furniture and Black Magic isn’t an exception. Just as with any woodwork, the paint color will look natural on any furniture.

Conclusion

With its depth and sophisticated vibes, Sherwin Williams Black Magic can easily become a favorite. Add that to its versatility, and the paint color begins to look like it does it all. However, it is never a bad idea to sample your colors first before use.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic has strong brown undertones that can sometimes look red. Its intensity could be a little overwhelming. Therefore you should only use it in well-lit areas for the best results.

Got any more questions? Feel free to drop them in the comments section below.