Obsidian vs Basically Black
Where Obsidian belongs to Cloverdale Paint's range, Basically Black is a Dulux color. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Basically Black (LRV 9) reflects noticeably more light than Obsidian (LRV 6), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 3.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Obsidian vs Basically Black in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Obsidian and Basically Black 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Basically Black gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Basically Black reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Basically Black reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Obsidian vs Basically Black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Obsidian on one side and Basically Black 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 Obsidian comparisons
See how Obsidian stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
