Perle Noir
Often used for its genuinely dark qualities, Perle Noir remains a staple for Sherwin-Williams designers. It is widely considered one of the best colors in its class to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. We've gathered 11 real-home scenarios to help you visualize this color alongside our expert data.
Hex
#4F4D51
LRV
7.52
Perle Noir's Color Strip
Perle Noir is the seventh shade on this 7-color strip, the deepest shade in this coordinated family. Browsing strip 226 alongside this color helps you gauge whether to go lighter, darker, or stay right here.
Perle Noir in Real Rooms
Perle Noir has a low LRV of 7.52 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color. It's neutral in temperature and , making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Purple family, the photos below show it applied in a misc, bedroom, front door and bathroom.
3 Misc Photos
More spaces painted in Perle Noir, shared by homeowners and designers across kitchens, hallways, dining rooms, and beyond. This collection shows how one color can take on a dozen different personalities depending on the room.
Deep walls in Perle Noir establish drama and sophistication.
@paresa.santini.interiors
Corridor walls painted in Perle Noir draw the eye forward.
@leniluxe
Hallway features bold Perle Noir walls that impress visitors.
@primetimepaintllc
1 Bedroom Photo
Perle Noir creates a bedroom that feels deliberately calm rather than accidentally plain. The color absorbs the first rays of morning light without bouncing them back harshly, which means waking up in this environment feels gentle and gradual. Keep the window treatments simple and let the walls do the heavy lifting.
Accent wall in Perle Noir creates a striking focal point.
@bpenley77
1 Front Door Photo
Front door color is the one exterior choice that gets examined up close. Perle Noir rewards that scrutiny — it has the kind of depth that looks richer the closer you get, rather than flatter. Pair with polished or unlacquered brass hardware for the best result.
Front door painted in Perle Noir makes a dramatic statement.
@shawnasd
6 Bathroom Photos
Perle Noir is the perfect "clean" color for a bathroom that still wants to feel cozy. It lacks the clinical coldness of a pure white but retains a sense of hygiene and order that is essential for a space dedicated to self-care and grooming.
Bathroom vanity mirror reflects light off Perle Noir walls beautifully.
@122_north
Coordinating Colors
Original White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 8), opening up a space where Perle Noir encloses it.
At LRV 86 vs 8, Extra White is decisively the brighter choice.
Zircon reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 8), opening up a space where Perle Noir encloses it.
Trim Color
Original White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 8), opening up a space where Perle Noir encloses it.
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 8 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 10 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 8 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 10 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 8 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 8 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 4-point LRV gap (11 vs 8) makes Cloak Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Complementary Colors
With LRVs of 10 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 73 vs 8, Opaline is decisively the brighter choice.
Pine Frost reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 8), opening up a space where Perle Noir encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Leaflet reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 8), opening up a space where Perle Noir encloses it.
Frostwork reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 8), opening up a space where Perle Noir encloses it.
At LRV 86 vs 8, Extra White is decisively the brighter choice.
Lighter Colors
Special Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 19 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 4-point LRV gap (11 vs 8) makes Cloak Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Exclusive Plum reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 10 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 10 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Darker Colors
A 4-point LRV gap (8 vs 3) makes Perle Noir the marginally brighter of the two.
Perle Noir reads slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.