Soot vs Black Magic
Soot is a Benjamin Moore color while Black Magic comes from Sherwin-Williams. Soot reads as blue-grey, while Black Magic reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 6 vs 3, Soot will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Soot's blue character against Black Magic's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 5.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Soot vs Black Magic in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Soot and Black Magic are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Soot has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Soot gives the walls a little more lift.
Dining Room
Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Soot reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Soot gives the walls a little more lift.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Soot gives the walls a little more lift.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Soot has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The brightness difference is modest but present — Soot gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Soot vs Black Magic Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Soot on one side and Black Magic on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Soot comparisons
See how Soot stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
