Licorice
With a focus on genuinely dark tones, Licorice (PPG1009-7) is a standout paint color in our database. It was selected for this featured gallery for its ability to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. See it applied across 10 real world scenarios and find professional pairing data below.
Hex
#4e4f48
LRV
7.00
Licorice's Color Strip
Licorice is the seventh shade on this 7-color strip, the deepest shade in this coordinated family. As part of strip PPG1009, these colors are curated to work together — helpful when you're deciding how light or deep to go.
Licorice in Real Rooms
Licorice has a low LRV of 7 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color.
1 Bathroom Photo
In a powder room, Licorice can be used floor-to-ceiling to create a dramatic, high-impact experience for guests. Because these rooms are small and transitional, they can handle the full intensity of the color's personality without feeling overwhelming.
Licorice — earthy bathroom
@simplywalldecor
1 Front Door Photo
Licorice on a front door looks particularly stunning when framed by greenery or seasonal wreaths. The color provides a deep, matte background that makes the organic textures of a boxwood wreath or autumn garland really pop.
cottagecore front door featuring Licorice by PPG
@simplywalldecor
1 Dining Room Photo
Licorice encourages conversation. Its calm, grounded presence creates a sense of safety and comfort that allows guests to relax and stay at the table longer, which is the ultimate goal of any well-designed dining area.
Licorice paint in a art deco dining room
@simplywalldecor
1 Home Office Photo
The transition from "home life" to "work life" can be signaled by the color of the room. Entering a space painted in Licorice provides a mental shift, telling your brain that it's time to settle in and be productive.
PPG Licorice in a moody home office
@simplywalldecor
1 Bedroom Photo
For guest bedrooms, Licorice is a welcoming embrace. It's a universally appealing tone that feels clean and fresh for new arrivals, yet has enough "personality" to make their stay feel special and considered. It works across all seasons, feeling cool in summer and cozy in winter.
A art deco bedroom painted in Licorice
@simplywalldecor
1 Patio Photo
Licorice on a patio or porch provides a sense of "enclosure" even in an open space. It defines the boundaries of the outdoor room, making it feel more private, secure, and ready for relaxation.
aesthetic patio featuring Licorice by PPG
@simplywalldecor
1 Mudroom Photo
Licorice in the mudroom earns its keep. It's a color that can handle the traffic — grounding enough to hide the daily chaos, and intentional enough to make the transition from outside feel considered and high-end.
Licorice paint in a small mudroom
@simplywalldecor
1 House Photo
Exterior paint earns its keep over years, not months — it needs to handle bleaching summers, wet winters, and the slow shifts of a neighborhood's context. Licorice has the depth and pigment quality to age gracefully through all of it.
Licorice color — modern luxury house inspiration
@simplywalldecor
1 Kitchen Photo
The challenge with kitchen color is longevity: it needs to look right at 7am under bright task lights and at dinner with the pendants dimmed low. Licorice manages to bridge all three lighting scenarios with ease, which is a rarer quality in a paint pigment than it sounds.
Licorice — scandinavian kitchen
@simplywalldecor
1 Living Room Photo
The beauty of Licorice in a living room lies in its versatility with textures. It provides a smooth, matte-like quality that contrasts beautifully against plush velvet sofas or chunky wool rugs. It's a color that invites you to stay a little longer, creating an atmosphere that feels established rather than just decorated.
A mid century living room painted in Licorice
@simplywalldecor
Expert Perspectives
In-depth articles and real-home features from across our network of home and design sites.
Coordinating Colors
Magic Dust reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 7), opening up a space where Licorice encloses it.
Trim Color
Horseradish reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 7), opening up a space where Licorice encloses it.
At LRV 88 vs 7, Delicate White is decisively the brighter choice.